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TOWER gROVE PARK, 



SAINT LOUIS. 



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Glass 6 Cj4 .'R?> 



F*1AN or TOWER GROVE PARK 



MAGNOLIA AVENUE 




Main Drive 
Souih Drivt 
North Diiv. 



DRIVES, WALKS, ETC. 



8S7 " 65 



k Concoiir^t.— E 
ic Conc(Mi.sc-\\ 
1 Cross Drivo, 



East Cross Dri 



Stone Culvert Drain, 

Pipe Drain, ... - 

Number of Silt Pits, . 

Area of Park, including surrounding 



REFERENCES. 



North Gate 
South Gate. 
North-East Pedes 
South-F,Mt Pi:de.- 



D. Summer H 

E. Plant Hous 

F. Playground 



. Labyrinth and Obsei 
. Music Stnnd. 

Carriage Concourse. 

Horse Concourse 
. Pond and Fountain. 
, Kuios from old I.ind 



O. Si»ble Yard. 

P. Superinlendant's Housi: 



avma 



TOWEfi GfiOY© PMK 



— OF THE — 



CiTTY OK St. Louis. 



Review of its Origin and History, Plan of Improve- 
ment, Ornamental Features, Etc. 



WITH IIvIvUSTRJVTIOMS. 



Prepared by Order of the Board of Commissioners. 



By David H. MacAdam. 



1883: 

R. P. STUDLEY & CO., PRINTERS. 

ST. LOUIS, MO. 




LlBfli«rOFCX)t<GRea6 * 
RECEIVED 

SEP 8 1933 

OiVtSIOM OF D0C(iti&tT8 



.%'^ 






o^ 



ir- 







PREFACE 



In some important particulars connected with its origin and 
history, Tower Grove Park is different from the other pleasure 
grounds of the City of St. Louis. It originated from a donation 
of private property for park uses, was placed from its inception 
under special control by an act of the State Legislature, and its 
improvement was conducted under the personal supervision of the 
donor of the lands embraced within its limits. It may also be 
stated, that it was the first driving park opened to the use of the 
public, and that the plan and character of the improvements are 
dissimilar, in some respects, from those adopted in connection 
with the other large parks. 

In view of these facts, and that the cost of the improvement 
was defrayed by public funds, it seemed desirable that a review 
of the history and improvement of the park should be presented 
to the citizens of St. Louis in a compact and convenient form, not 
only for the purpose of conveying information, but in the hope of 
deepening public interest in this and the other pleasure grounds 
which contribute so largely to the ornamentation of the city, the 
recreation of its citizens and the advancement of taste. 

This volume owes its publication to these considerations. It 
is not in the form of an official report, because it contains some ' 
matter not properly embraced in a formal document of that kind, 
but the aim has been to supply complete information respecting 
the park, in a more attractive form than that of a mere statement 
of details, embracing also suggestions intended to illustrate the 
purpose and spirit of the enterprise. 

The Commissioners trust the publication will meet the ap- 
proval of the public, regretting that the edition could not be 
extended so as to admit of general gratuitous distribution. 



Tower Grove Park. 



Fifteen years ago the city of St. Louis did not possess a single 
park in any way commensurate with its progress and character as 
the representative metropolis of the Mississippi Valley. The 
ornamental pleasure grounds then in existence were small in 
extent, surrounded by residence or business districts, and re- 
stricted to the use of pedestrians. Small spaces in the heart of 
population, like Missouri and Washington squares, had been im- 
proved, but their benefits were confined to particular neighbor- 
hoods, and the larger places, then in course of improvement, such 
as Lafayette and Hyde Parks, although of much greater import- 
ance and indicating a decided advancement, could not be regarded 
as adequate to the requirements of a great and growing com- 
munit3^ Improved squares and small parks are highly orna- 
mental and of incalculable advantage to a city, by introducing 
natural beauties and refreshing the atmosphere in crowded lo- 
calities, but their limited area renders it impossible for them 
to meet the wants of all classes. Lafaj^ette Park was nearlj^ 
completed, and j)roved a most tasteful and successful piece of 
landscape gardening on a small scale, adding a new and attractive 
feature to the city, highly creditable to the taste and skill of Mr. 
M. G. Kern, landscape gardener, who devised the plan of improve- 
ment, and to the gentlemen who composed the board in control of 
the park. It exhibited a great advance as compared with any- 
thing then existing in the nature of public pleasure grounds, but, 
contemporaneousl}" with its completion, the ideas and tastes of 



6 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

the citizens of St. Louis had expanded and deepened on the sub- 
ject of parks. The city was progressing rapidly in all paths of 
commercial and industrial enterprise, and as wealth and culture 
increased, the necessity for ornamental pleasure grounds in some 
measure adequate to the needs of society and illustrative of mu- 
nicipal character and prosperity was generally admitted. In 
accordance with this growing interest, an effort was made to have 
Lafayette Park extended westward to California avenue, between 
Park and Lafayette avenues, and the project was submitted to a 
popular vote, but owing to some unfortunate causes it was de- 
feated. It then became a settled conclusion, that the first large 
park available for all purposes and for the enjoyment of all 
classes, whether visiting it on foot or on wheels — ^in a word, the 
first driving park — must be located west of Grand avenue. 

What has now been stated is sufficient to indicate the condi- 
tion of public improvement in St. Louis, so far as parks are 
concerned, prior to the year in which Tower Grove Park was 
commenced, and as this is not a review of the history of the parks 
of the city in general, but of one park in particular, a more pre- 
cise statement of details is unnecessary. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF TOWER GROVE PARK. 

The first steps toward the creation and establishment of 
Tower Grove Park were taken in the year 1866, although the 
enterprise did not assume a definite shape until the succeeding 
year. The Missouri Botanical Garden, at Tower Grove, about 
four miles southwest from the business centre of the city, had 
been established by Mr. Henry Shaw more than twenty years 
before, and to this fact must be attributed the first idea of a park 
in that part of the suburban territory of St. Louis. The improve- 
ment of the gardens, which surrounded the country home of Mr. 
Shaw, had been carried on steadily from the commencement, 
and at the date mentioned, although they had not attained 
the exquisite finish of their present condition, they formed the 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 7 

chief attraction in the vicinity of the city, and had acquired a 
national reputation for the taste and beauty they exhibited and 
the variety and value of their botanical features. As the gardens 
approached completion, the conception of a large public park in 
the vicinity assumed a definite shape in the mind of their owner. 
The city possessed no ornamental pleasure grounds available for 
general park purposes at the time, and the need of such improve- 
ments was keenly felt, not only to supply the demands of an in- 
creasing population, but as a necessary adjunct to civic growth 
and reputation. The commerce and industries of the city were 
just reviving from the severe back-set incident to the civil war, 
and although the desirability of park improvement was appreci- 
ated by the more thoughtful and progressive citizens, no specific 
enterprise had been suggested for carrying it on. Indeed, the 
financial condition of the city, at the time, rendered it impossible 
for any extensive work of the kind to be paid for out of the annual 
revenues, nor were the tax-pa}^ ers prepared for a special levy to 
meet the cost of purchasing suburban land, then ruling at rather 
high rates, and the additional outlay of improving it. It was under 
such circumstances that Mr. Shaw matured his idea of creating a 
park in the immediate vicinity of Tower Grove, Between the 
King's Highway, which is about half a mile west of Tower Grove, 
and Grand Avenue, which is one mile east of the same, and 
adjoining the gardens on the south ; he owned a tract of land 
undulating in surface and admirably adapted for ornamental 
improvement, and he determined to submit a proposition to do- 
nate this land, comprising nearly three hundred acres, for park 
purposes, provided public funds were furnished for its improve- 
ment. A donation equal in value to about $300,000. The charter 
of the city, as revised by the Legislature in 1867, established a line 
six hundred and sixty feet west of Grand Avenue, as the western 
limits of the city, so that the proposed park would extend from the 
municipal boundary to a point about a mile and a half west of same. 
The Hon. James S. Thomas was then Mayor of the city, having been 
elected in 1864, and holding office continuously until the close 
of 1868, and to him Mr. Shaw submitted, during the autumn of 



8 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

1866, a statement of his intention. The Mayor approved warmly 
of the enterprise, the details of which were also explained to other 
members of the city government. The territory offered for a park 
was, however, beyond the city limits, and this fact, together with 
lack of authority in the then existing charter for the expenditure 
proposed, made it necessary that the acceptance of the land and 
the creation and improvement of the park should be authorized 
by the Legislature of the State. In accordance, therefore, with 
the wish of the representative officers of the city government, the 
subject was submitted to that body during the winter session of 

1867, and a special act was passed, entitled "An Act to create, 
establish and provide for the government of Tower Grove Park, 
of the City of St. Louis." This act was approved March 9th, 
1867, and from that date Tower Grove Park may be said to have a 
legal existence. At the same session of the Legislature, and a 
few days subsequent to the approval of the act just mentioned, 
another act was passed, approved March 13th, 1867, extending 
Tower Grove Park northwardly as far as the line of the Pacific 
Railroad, so that the park would embrace the whole territory north 
of Arsenal Street, between the King's Highway and Tower Grove 
Avenues, up to the railroad. This scheme, however, was framed 
so as not to interfere, in any wa}^, with the proposed donation by 
Mr. Shaw, but had in view an enlargement of the park on the 
north, and its operation was made dependent upon a popular elec- 
tion, and it was never carried into effect. The passage of this 
supplemental act caused some delay in the actual commencement 
of the improvement of the park, but during the ensuing year, 1868, 
all the necessary preliminary measures were adopted and substan- 
tial progress was made. The full text of the organic law of the 
park is given in the appendix, and it is sufficient to state here, that 
it provided fully for the creation and maintenance of the park on 
the land to be donated by Mr. Shaw, viz : Bounded by Grand 
Avenue on the east, Arsenal Street on the south. Magnolia Avenue 
on the north and King's Highway on the west. The exclusive 
control and management were vested in a Board of Commissioners 
to consist of not more than seven persons, to be selected by Mr. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 9 

Shaw, and of this board he was made a member during his natural 
life, and after his death, his successor in the direction of the 
Missouri Botanical Gardens as he might authorize by devise or 
otherwise. Under the act the city was required to issue bonds to 
an amount sufficient to realize three hundred and sixty thousand 
dollars, and to pay the proceeds to the commissioners for the im- 
provement of the park, and after the expiration of three years 
from the passage of the act, a maintenance fund, equal to $25,000 
per annum was provided for by a general tax, two-thirds to be 
levied on taxable value within the city proper, and one-third on 
property in St. Louis County, outside of the municipal limits. 
Provision was also made for the opening, widening and improve- 
ment of Tower Grove, Magnolia, Floral and Shaw Avenues, for 
protecting the locality from nuisances, and for giving force and 
efficac}^ to the rules and regulations that might be adopted by the 
commissioners, for the proper management of the park. 

The first Board of Commissioners, appointed in accordance 
with Section 3 of the act referred to, consisted of the following 
gentlemen : 

James S. Thomas, William F. Ferguson, 

Adolphus Meier, Henry Shaw, 

Charles P. Chouteau. 

In the year 1874 Mayor Thomas died, and the vacancy was 
filled by the appointment of Robert A. Barnes, which is the only 
change that has taken place in the constitution of the board up to 
the present year. Mr. Shaw was elected comptroller of the affairs 
of the board, and has continued from the first organization to be 
its principal executive officer, and has directed and supervised all 
work done in connection with the improvement of the park from 
its inception to completion. 

The ordinance of the city authorizing the issue of bonds, as 
provided for in the act of the Legislature, was approved July 3, 
1868, and during the following autumn the bonds were sold and 
the proceeds paid over to the board, and the work of improve- 
ment was commenced without delay. 

A strip of ground two hundred feet wide around the park 



10 TOWER GROYE PARK. 

was reserved, according to the terms of the original donation, to be 
leased for villa purposes, the income from which was to be applied 
to the support of the Missouri Botanical Gardens. During the 
administration of Mayor Joseph Brown, a question was suggested 
as to the authority of the city to act as trustee in the manner con- 
templated in connection with the two hundred feet strip, and Mr. 
Shaw offered to release the ground from all restrictions and con- 
ditions, if the city would construct an iron fence around the park 
similar to that enclosing Lafayette Park. This proposition was 
not accepted, and finally, Mr. Shaw made a supplemental deed to 
the city, by which the title to the land embraced in the park 
proper was confirmed in the city irrespective of any conditions 
connected with the two hundred feet strip surrounding it. The 
strip, consequently, has not been embraced in the work of im- 
provement, but is kept free from weeds and reserved for meadow 
and other purposes ; its extent is about seventy-six acres. 

The first report of the Commissioners, embracing a period of 
about a year, from the commencement of operations to February 
1, 1870, showed an expenditure of $118,944.82 ; and the second 
report, for the year ending February 1, 1871, the sum of $129,- 
568.10. The park was ready for public use in about three years 
from the commencement of the work of improvement — a remark- 
ably short period, when it is remembered that at the beginning 
the land was almost in its natural state, bare and treeless, without 
sward, cultivation of soil or proper drainage. In the other large 
cities of the country the improvement of extensive driving parks 
has generally required a much longer time. 

In the foregoing brief review of the history of Tower Grove 
Park, many details have been omitted as not necessarily con- 
nected with an account of the origin and basis of the enterprise. 
Information respecting the various ornamental features, and the 
methods adopted in carrying out the more expensive improve- 
ments, will be found under appropriate headings. 

SUPERVISION OF THE WORK OF IMPROVEMENT. 

Tower Grove Park originated from the act of an individual, 
and the motive for that act was a belief in the importance of public 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 11 

parks, not only as ornaments to a great city, but as conducive to 
the health and happiness of its inhabitants and to the advance- 
ment of refinement and culture. The donor of the land for the 
park, owing to fortunate circumstances, became also the author 
of the plan for its improvement, and no expense was incurred for 
professional assistance. The Board of Commissioners, of course, 
consulted together respecting the inception and progress of the 
work, but the experience acquired by Mr. Henrj" Shaw in the crea- 
tion of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, in man}^ years devoted to 
the study of botany and arboriculture, and to the best methods 
and designs for landscape gardening, as suggested in the works 
of such eminent authors as Sir Uvedale Price, Repton, Gilpin, 
Loudon, Downing, and Alford's " Parks and Promenades of 
Paris," etc., naturally placed him in a position to decide the 
plan to be adopted. In addition to his opportunities for study 
and experiment Mr. Shaw, after his retirement from active busi- 
ness, had spent eight years in Europe, where he observed closely 
the various features and systems of public pleasure grounds in 
England, France, Germany and other countries ; and subsequent to 
his return to St. Louis he also derived much information from exam- 
ining the reports of the park authorities in the cities of New York, 
Brookljm, Philadelphia, Boston and other large cities of the United 
States. It is thus seen that the plan ultimateh^ adopted in the 
improvement of Tower Grove Park was based upon reasonably 
complete information, and under the guidance of a practical 
acquaintance with the rules and principles properly governing 
such operations. It is only necessary to add a brief statement of 
the general conception of the subject that controlled the execu- 
tion of the work. 

THE GENERAL OBJECTS HELD IN VIEW. 

In all ornamental improvements of land the landscape gar- 
dener should keep steadily in view the purposes which the 
improvements are intended to subserve, and auxilliary to this, 
the most picturesque and economical use of the natural advan- 
tages of surface and situation. In the improvement of a public 



12 TOWKR GROVE PARK. 

pleasure ground, the plan should be speciall}^ framed to afford 
recreation to the greatest number, within, of course, the proper 
limitations of such an enterprise. A park is not created for 
the benefit of srny particular class, but for the enjoyment of 
all classes — for the use of the city population in the aggregate. 
The spirit and motive of the improvement are unselfish and im- 
partial, and represent the principles of practical philanthropy, 
because they merge all social distinctions in the paramount con- 
sideration of the public welfare. The rich, the poor, the educated 
and the illiterate have an equal title to the fair domain of shade 
and sward, of pleasant walks and landscapes, all that is required 
of any of them being a due regard to the character of the place 
and the rights of each visitor. It exists for the enjoyment of 
all — shedding its sweet influences indifferently, like the rain and 
sunshine, from which it gathers its foliage, fragrance and colors, 
and the tax payer has no pre-emptiA^e right in any of its features 
over the man who never owned anything to pay taxes upon. Its 
broad and level drives are made for the costly chariot flashing 
with silver and polish, and also for the humble wagon with its 
painted sign indicating its daily use. There also are quiet, shady 
walks, specially intended for those who can command no vehicle 
but the street car, and who seek the park on a Sundaj^ afternoon 
for a taste of that life-giving freshness and sweetness of nature 
without which we all languish acd fade as flowers deprived of 
water, or as plants in a darksome room. There are seats too in 
pleasant places, if not for all, at least for many ; the first comer 
having the preference, and nature's green velvet is spread inimit- 
ably for those who choose to recline. The worrying command, 
"keep off the grass," when the feet are aching to tread the car- 
pet of youth's memories, does not harass the visitor bj^ springing 
out on his eye as he turns each curve. Music, too, is thrown in 
free in summer time, and thus all elements of pleasure and beauty 
are woven together in lightness and brightness for the general 
good. It is on the fact of this freedon in the use of a public park, 
the hopefulness it indicates in human nature, and the equal con- 
sideration it shows for all classes, is based the faith of those who 



TOWER GKOVE PARK. 13 

believe in its refining and elevating influence. Such a place does 
not sermonize dogmatically, nor does nature. She exhibits a 
truth instead of voicing a doctrine. It unfolds fair spectacles, 
without restraint or an air of patronage, for all who care to see, 
and it thus tends to refute the selfish theories of either extremes 
of society, to reconcile divergent elements, to encourage the 
gentler ideas and tastes, and to promote innocent recreations 
and purer manners. The poor are forced to see that wealth beyond 
their control, and without their asking, has created a resort, free 
for the enjoyment of all, and the rich, by the equality in its use, 
are reminded of the artificial origin of class and the everlasting 
kinship of man. 

The beneficial influence alluded to, in connection with such 
improvements, is a real and living force, and in creating a public 
park attention should be given to those features which may be 
essential in deepening and strengthening it. The plan should be 
devised in a liberal spirit, annoying rules and restrictions should 
be avoided, and all classes made to feel that they are welcome to 
pleasure grounds made for all, but that good order must alw^ays 
be preserved. In the plan and regulations of Tower Grove Park 
these objects have always been held in view. Originating as it does 
from the donation of private property for public use, the effort 
has constantly been made to improve it in accordance with the 
spirit of its origin ; to add to it all the attractions necessary to 
gratify a visiting public, so that year by year the citizens of St. 
Louis may learn to appreciate it more fully, and as it becomes 
annually more intimately associated with the out-door recreations 
of all classes, their feelings of affection and appreciation will 
form the best security for its perpetuation and maintenance. 
Public buildings and monuments of all kinds change with chang- 
ing generations and wither under the breath of time, but as long 
as the city endures the park will retain its loveliness. All it 
requires is a reasonable care to preserve its original harmony, for 
the elements, the seasons guarantee a perennial freshness. Each 
spring and summer will add new charms to the living land- 
scapes, tremulous with fresh breezes and bright hues, and a 



14 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

deeper quiet to sequestered glades. Nature expresses her ap- 
proval of parks by annually renewing their beauties : always 
silently working to perpetuate their existence, to supplement the 
conceptions of Art ; repainting them with pigments drawn from 
sunlight, soil and air, and giving them a riper beauty with revolv- 
ing years. 

THE PLAN OF THE PARK. 

The shape of Tower Grove Park is that of an oblong figure, 
with the length many times greater than the width. From the 
main entrance, or east gate, on Grand avenue, to the west gate on 
King's highway, the distance is nearly a mile and a half. The 
main entrance is about three miles two hundred yards from the 
Court House, and the situation of the park is nearly central be- 
tween the north and south limits of the city. The form of the 
land composing the park naturally suggested a central drive, or 
roadway, which was accordingly laid out with a width of nearly 
fifty feet, constructed carefully on a modification of the Telford 
plan, and each end of this drive being elevated affords a com- 
manding view of the park. To avoid the monotony of a straight 
line over a mile long, there are two turn-outs, or circular spaces, 
which interrupt the course of the central drive, around which it 
branches right and left in curving roadways which unite beyond, 
and the stretch of grass, ornamented with evergreens and other 
trees, enclosed, adds a pleasing variety to the view extending 
westward from the east entrance. On the western edge of the 
second turn-out stands the statue of Humboldt, and thence the 
central boulevard leads up to the base of the statue of Shake- 
speare, where it separates again and sweeps around the noble 
work of art in a wide circle. Between the sites of the statues and 
north of the carriage-way are the music stand and curving 
drives forming the concourse, a little west are the pond and ruins, 
and nearly opposite, some distance to the south, the circular 
space surrounded by an ornamental railing reserved for horses 
and carriages, with hitching-posts and facilities for watering, with 
a shelter house in the centre. The statue of Shakespeare, which 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 15 

stands on an eminence, may be said to mark the centre of the 
park, if not in distance certainly in interest, as it is surrounded 
by features of variety and beauty. The music stand, the pond 
and the plant house are in near view — also the statue of Hum- 
boldt ; to the north is the northern entrance, connecting with 
Tower Grove and Magnolia avenues, and to the south, the gate- 
way opening on Arsenal street, and in the far western perspective, 
beyond a beautiful intervening stretch of sward fringed by wood- 
land, can be seen the towers of the western gate on the King's 
highway. There are also in view to the east and south the orna- 
mental roofs of summer houses rising above the trees, and the 
dark green circle forming the maze which lies south of the Hum- 
boldt statue. On either side of the main carriage-way is a some- 
what narrower drive, by which the park can be traversed from 
east to west, and from which any entrance or object of interest 
can be reached. These are called the north and south drives, and 
have frequent curves and pass through wooded places, and afford 
an agreeable variety to all who visit the park frequently, by en- 
abling them, upon entering from Grand avenue, to reach the 
centre by different routes, or to return without traversing the 
central drive. The north and south drives converge towards the 
circle surrounding the Shakespeare statue, and thence, deflecting, 
they wind along the northern and southern sides of the park until 
they finally unite near the western gate. The walks for pedestri- 
ans traverse the park in all directions, but the main system is 
carried on between the north and south drives and the central 
carriage-way. These walks frequently lead up to tasteful sum- 
mer houses furnished with seats, and useful for shade or shelter 
from sudden showers ; cross runs on ornamental bridges, or 
deflect to some object of interest — the children's play-ground, 
with its summer house and vine-covered trellises ; the maze with 
its mystery ; evergreen circle, or pleasant spots where, under a 
light, graceful structure, stands a pump ready to supply the 
weary with cool and refreshing water. Some of these walks are 
fifteen feet wide, carefully macadamized and gravelled ; others 
thirteen feet wide, and altogether represent many miles in length. 



16 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

There are also grass walks, always trimmed, and soft and rich in 
"grateful shade," and terminating at some pleasant spot "lone- 
some, cool and green," or a circular 2)lot where upon a pedestal 
stands a vase or urn, or some other pleasing feature. These 
walks commence at the gates for pedestrians on either side of the 
main entrance on Grand avenue, connecting also with the side 
entrances, and are continued from one end of the park to the 
other, without the necessity — except at one place — of crossing the 
carriage roads. A visitor to the park on foot, from whatever side 
he may approach it, will find walks leading him to all points of 
interest, without interruption or danger from the horses and car- 
riages on the main roadways. 

The drainage of the park is mainly from south to north, 
owing to natural undulations, and the two most important runs are 
crossed by all east and west drives and walks, which are carried 
over on stone culverts with ornamental walls and copings ; the 
stonework is substantial and tasteful, and the trim gray walls 
show agreeably through the green foliage. The more important 
drives and walks are bordered by stone gutters, carefully con- 
structed and kept free from grass and weeds, the sward being cut 
evenly along the edges. The attention bestowed upon these gut- 
ters in their construction and maintenance, and protection from 
overgrowth, is one of the factors that contributes to the appearance 
of order and elegant neatness which, it will be admitted, is a 
strongly marked characteristic of Tower Grove Park. The par- 
ticulars of the system of drainage will be found elsewhere. 

From these general statements the plan of the park may be 
inferred, and for more detailed information reference must be 
made to the diagram elsewhere given. The plan of the drives, as 
above indicated, which largelj^ influenced the system of improve- 
ment, was adopted after full consideration of the characteristics 
of the natural surface, of the shape of the park and the conveni- 
ence and enjoyment of the public. The advantages of the 
central drive may be thus stated : 1st. Affording visitors a better 
view of the park and of each other. 2d. Its decided adaptability 
to the form and nature of the ground. Under some circumstances 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 17 

curved drives are pleasing and desirable, as in situations where 
large sheets of water exist, or prominent eminences ; to drive 
round such objects becomes then an agreeable necessity, but 
the land of Tower Grove Park originally was a rolling prairie of 
rich loamy soil, without springs or ponds of water or other distinc- 
tive features of a picturesque character. In creating a central 
drive, however, monotony was avoided by turn-outs and by 
terminating it at a central eminence, and thence to the western 
end the drives are widely separated and pursue curving lines. 

The location of the music stand was determined by a naturally 
existing central eminence between the east and north gates, com- 
manding a varied and extensive landscape and convenient of 
access from all directions. The situations of the summer houses, 
the children's play and croquet grounds, and other features of 
interest, were controlled by a desire to unite utility and variety. 
The entrances were located with a view to the most direct con- 
nection with the leading avenues surrounding the park. The 
effort throughout has been to impart diversity and interest without 
sacrificing convenience, so that all classes, in visiting it, may 
realize that provision has been made for their wants and enjoy- 
ments, and that the author of the plan did not strive after labored 
artistic effects, but rather to unite the beautiful and useful for 
the practical benefit of all. 

THE STYLE OF ORNAMENTATION AND REASONS FOR ITS ADOPTION. 

In considering the style of ornamentation adopted in the 
improvement of Tower Grove Park, it should be remembered 
that it was selected because deemed best suited to the extent 
and character of the ground. The picturesque, or strictly natu- 
ral style, could not have been followed successfully, as it requires 
great distances, ancient woods, water, and other features, that 
were not available. Indeed, this style is not often illustrated by 
creations of art, except among the landscape paintings of a few 
great masters ; and here it is largely ideal, imaginative genius 
devising a type of wild nature decorated by art that it would be 



18 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

diflScult to find among really existing scenes. Perhaps the nearest 
approach to it in improved grounds may be seen in some of the 
royal parks in the vicinity of London — Windsor, Hampton Court 
and Burley, Epping Forest, or the Bois de Boulogne in the 
suburbs of Paris. But in these historical and famous pleasure- 
grounds the work of art has been supplemented by the influence 
of time — the seasons, working through ages, creating vistas and 
forest shapes beyond the power of taste and skill to imitate. 
Evidently such effects should not control the ideas of a land- 
scape gardener, charged with the improvement of an ordinary 
city park ; for he cannot possibly avail himself of the features 
necessary to produce them. He is required to adopt a plan 
which can be developed within a few years, and the limitations 
existing as to time, money and space forbid him attempting to 
follow the more ancient and massive models. The task before 
him is to create, in a brief period, an ornamental pleasure ground, 
combining variety and beauty ; and as he cannot command the 
presence of mountain, river and forest, and other striking natural 
features, he is necessarily compelled to modify the picturesque 
style by artistic conceptions and arrangements. This modification 
constitutes what is known as the gardenesque or cultivated style ; 
and, after careful consideration, it was selected to control the im- 
provement of Tower Grove Park, as best adapted to the treat- 
ment of an oblong-shaped piece of ground, embracing less than 
three hundred acres of fertile prairie, possessing no remarkable 
characteristics. 

The cultivated style of park ornamentation necessarily im- 
plies order, systematic arrangement, but is not limited to formal 
or purely artistic conceptions, and the freedom and grace of 
nature are not sacrificed in the landscapes it creates. It offers 
this great advantage, that in combinations of form and color it is 
quite unlimited, and by contrasts in foliage and perspectives 
shown through sylvan openings, can group many pleasing and 
varied effects within really short distances. The landscape gar- 
dener, working after this style, has every opportunity of pro- 
ducing the beautiful, which according to Burke, is reducible to 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 19 

two elements, form and color, and is best expressed by scenes 
"comparatively small" and possessing "smoothness" — the 
grandly irregular and the vast falling within the province of the 
sublime. He may create park landscapes of the most pleasing^ 
variety, at the same time avoiding the stiff formality of what has 
been called the geometric style, once so popular in Europe,. 
and illustrated in the Versailles Garden of Loais XIV. Curious- 
designs and angular forms in ground-work, in clipped hedges and 
trees, may be interesting, but their outlines can never be free and 
natural. 

The artist of the graceful and cultivated style pursues, then, 
a middle course between the picturesque and the formality of the 
purely artificial, aiming always to preserve the harmony of natu- 
ral forms and scenes. His work is one of arrangement and 
selection, and without resort to unique or curious conceptions, his 
opportunities for combination and the creation of free and beauti- 
ful scenes are as infinite as Nature herself. Ground-work may be 
diversified almost endlessly by knoll and hollow, level stretches, 
curving lines, also by walks, drives and the introduction of water. 
In planting, the deciduous and evergreen trees afford a boundless 
Variety in form and color, and to all this may be added the fea- 
tures arising from the use of purely artificial objects, summer 
houses, rustic bowers, music stands, etc., to say nothing of works 
of art, statues, busts, vases, etc. The varying hues of trees at 
different seasons may also be considered in creating landscape 
effects, and from numerous shades of green and livelier tints, 
silver, yellow, scarlet and crimson dyes, he may weave many 
sylvan embroideries, rare and brilliant. The variety in the 
shades and shapes of trees is in itself quite limitless. In his 
excellent work on "Suburban Home Grounds," Mr. Scott 
remarks in this connection, that if the illimitable varieties of 
expression in human faces are produced from the changes and 
combinations of only half a dozen features, it is diflSicult to con- 
ceive the endless variety of character that may be exhibited 
among trees with their multitude of features and forms. This 
style of park improvement embraces, therefore, unbounded 



20 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

liberality of materials and opportunities for ornamental designs. 
It does not aim "to reproduce the rudeness of nature, but to 
adapt her to our civilized necessities, to idealize and improve, to 
condense and appropriate her beauties, to eliminate the dross 
from her vegetable jewels, and give them worthy setting."* 

A park exists for public recreation, but the entertainment it 
provides is mainly for that precious sense so taxed and wearied by 
metropolitan life — that sense of which it has been exquisitely 
said: " The sight is the most delightful of all our senses. It fills 
1;he mind with the largest variety of ideas, converses with its 
•object at the greatest distance, and continues the longest in action 
without being tired or satiated with its proper enjoyments. * * 
A beautiful prospect delights the soul as much as a demonstra- 
tion, and a description in Homer has charmed more readers than 
a chapter in Aristotle. We are struck, we know not how, with 
the symmetry of anything we see, and immediately assent to the 
beauty of an object without inquiring into the particular causes 
and occasions of it."t 

It is the business of the park artist to delight the eyes of the 
people generally, without consulting the tastes of any particular 
class. "A certain artist-like feeling is necessary to enable one 
to relish the picturesque, for this reason the many see and feel 
the power of beauty in her graceful flowing lines ; but it is only 
the imaginative few who appreciate her more free and spirited 
forms. There are, perhaps, a thousand who admire the smooth- 
ness, softness and flowing outlines that predominate in the lawn 
and pleasure ground as we usually see them, where there is one 
who would prefer a cottage in a highly irregular and picturesque 
valley, or a castle on a rocky crag, though the latter may, to 
certain minds, be incomparably more enchanting."! The park 
landscape should captivate the eye instantly by the voiceless 
appealing of grace and quietude — the vision should not be re- 



* Frank A. Scott— " Suburban Home Grounds." 

t Addison— Spectator, No. 411. 

X Downing— " Landscape Gardening." 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 21 

quired to hold argument with the scene as to its features, for 
they should blend in a unity of beauty, the gentleness of which 
disarms criticism. The eye should receive it as the ear accepts : 

" The viewless spirit of a lovely sound " — 

a delight-giving sensation, needing no introduction nor explana- 
tion ; unlike the grander musical effects, which demand close 
attention and cultivation to understand — a beauty half elusive, 
mysterious ; and voices or instruments 

"Untwisting all the chains that tie 
The hidden soul of harmony," 

leave us conscious of a certain obscurity in the meaning, of the 
attempted translation of cloud-like thoughts and tempestuous 
emotions. Hence, it is an error of taste to introduce abrupt and 
startling features or violent contrasts in a park improved accord- 
ing to the gardenesque style. The controlling principle is har- 
mony, and its requirements should be visibly obeyed in every 
direction, in the shape of a parterre, the opening of a vista, or 
the outlines and color of ornamental structures. 

Lastly, it may be said, that as a park is intended to exist 
indefinitely, its scenes should represent a type of beauty about 
which there can be no controversy, but which will be always 
pleasing to the eye. The gardenesque style offers the best 
hope of accomplishing this successfully. It pleases now the 
greatest number, and this fact is a guarantee for the future, for 
tastes do not change rapidly. Burke observes that there is less 
difference respecting matters of taste among mankind than upon 
most of those which depend upon the naked reason ; and Hume, 
in the same connection, referring to objects of beauty, sa3^s : 
"The same Pheidias, whose works pleased at Athens and Rome 
two thousand years ago, is still admired in London and Paris." 

The ornamentation of Tower Grove Park was controlled by 
the style and principles wo have attempted to illustrate and ex- 
plain, and since its completion many competent persons from 
various parts of the world have expressed admiration and ap- 
proval of the design. The appreciation of the citizens of St. 



22 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

Louis has been exhibited on many occasions connected with the 
history of the park, and the number of visitors during the favor- 
able season is very large, representing all classes. It is now 
one of the most popular pleasure resorts in the suburbs, and 
each year adds something to its attractions. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR A SUMMER RAMBLE. 

A visitor who desires not merely a general view of the park, 
but to really examine its beauties and comprehend its plan of 
improvement, will accomplish his object best by entering it from 
Grand avenue and proceeding westward. Let us hope that he 
selects a fine day for his excursion, in May or June, when the 
heat is not so severe as to interfere with a leisurely inspection ; 
or in the early autumn, when summer airs still linger with us, and 
the landscapes are touched with crimson and gold. By entering 
through the Grand avenue gates he will secure immediately a 
comprehensive view of the park as a preface to his visit ; and 
in going westward, the ornamental improvements will unfold 
before him in their most appropriate order. Of course, to drive 
straight through, from the east to the west end, will hardly be 
sufficient to enable one to see properly all the features of interest, 
as many of them lie off the line of the main drives. The best 
way is to walk — to ramble through the pleasant scenes, making 
detours to the right and left as occasion may require. Assum- 
ing that a visitor enters from Grand avenue, and has paused to 
examine the fine proportions of the gateways, and their orna- 
mental pillars and bronzes, his attention is immediately demanded 
by objects in the vicinity. A little south of the main drive is a 
large ornamental summer house for shade, and shelter from sud- 
den showers, and to the north the children's plaj^-ground, with 
summer house and vine-clad trellises. Near the pavilion is a 
magnificent grove of evergreens, principally pines, well worthy 
inspection. Continuing westward the walks cross runs on neat, 
tasteful bridges, and the first ornamental well houses, with seats, 
will be found ; and north of the central drive are evergreen walks. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 23 

always fresh and beautiful. In the same vicinity is the statue 
of Humboldt ; south of this the labj^rinth ; to the west the 
music stand, the pond and ruins, the Shakespeare statue, the 
north and south gate-ways, the plant house, and other struct- 
ures, ornamental and useful. Thence the walks are separated 
widely by the stretch of meadow land, extending to the west 
gate, but they will be found to wind through many attractive 
places, bordered b}^ beautiful sward and diversified foliage. 

A visitor who takes a summer ramble in the park, starting 
from the east entrance, and noting the objects of interest we have 
mentioned, must certainly admit it is a most interesting and agree- 
able place. Every few steps will open a different view, ornamen 
tal structures or some work of art. Many persons fail to see, or 
to appreciate if the}^ do see, the manifold points of interest in a 
finished park, like Tower Grove, because they only visit it when 
out driving : they regard its scenes in a negligent and indolent 
fashion, entirely forgetting the studies of taste, the careful work 
they represent, and the remarkable variety in trees, shrubs and 
hedges. It is a driving park, but it has been as carefully im- 
proved as a garden, and citizens of St. Louis or visitors from 
abroad not familiar with its beauties, should seek occasion to view 
them without hurry, and when the weather is favorable. To do 
this thoroughl}^ they can hardly avoid walking a part of the dis- 
tance, and the attractions of the place should induce them to do 
this contentedly, recollecting that one of the objects for which it 
exists is to invite persons of sedentary habits to healthful exer- 
cise. 

THE ENTRANCES. 

The boundary of Tower Grove Park on each of its four sides 
being a public street or avenue, it became necessary to establish 
at least four carriage entrances with other gate-ways at appropri- 
ate places for pedestrians. There are accordingly four entrances 
for carriages, each of which has its appropriate gate-keeper, viz: 
the east or main entrance, on Grand avenue ; the north gate, on 
Magnolia avenue, at the intersection of Tower Grove avenue, 



24 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

leading directly to the Missouri Botanical Gardens ; the west 
gate, opening on the King's Highway, which runs north to Forest 
Park ; and the south gate, on Arsenal street. There are two 
gates for pedestrians on Arsenal street, about a mile apart, and 
a covered one on Magnolia avenue, near the east end of the park. 
At the carriage entrances there are also gates for visitors on foot, 
making the facilities, of access to the enclosure on every side 
quite adequate to the requirements of the public. Some descrip- 
tive particulars of the carriage entrances are subjoined ; the east. 
north and west gate ways are mentioned in the order of their 
importance and ornamental character, and have been selected 
as subjects for illustrations. 

THE EAST OR MAIN ENTRANCE GRAND AVENUE. 

The principal entrance is situated at the east end, and fronts 
on Grand avenue, a short distance north of Arsenal street, about 
three-quarters of a mile south of Lafayette avenue. It embraces^ 
two gate- ways for carriages, exit and entrance, about eight feet 
apart, and forty feet distant on each side is a gate for pedestrians. 
These four gate-ways are constructed on a straight line at right 
angles to the central drive and walks of the park, but from the 
pedestrian gates on either side a stone wall of quarry-faced range 
work, with a coping of dressed limestone supporting an iron 
railing of graceful design, curves outward to the line of the 
street, and terminates against a column of cut limestone blocks, 
resting upon a base of red granite blocks, and rising to a height 
of nearly thirty feet, with moldings and cornice of stone, sur- 
mounting which is a lion couchant, of metal. The terminal 
columns are two hundred and fifty feet apart in a straight line, 
and the wide curve to the gate-ways imparts amplitude to the 
space between them, occupied by the carriage roads and walks ^ 
which are separated by curving plots of close cut grass. The 
pedestrian entrances have double gate-ways, on each side stands 
a stone pier, with cornice, and above it a ball of red granite^ 
and the double carriage gate-ways lie between two massive piers. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 25 

composed of oblong blocks of dressed limestone resting upon a 
base of granite, with handsome moldings and cornices, surmoun- 
ted by griffins facing each other. The iron railing on stone 
coping, is carried the whole distance between the terminal 
columns, except where interrupted by the gate-ways ; its height 
is nearly twelve feet, and is constructed in sections, separated 
by light iron columns, terminating in gilt ornaments. It is paint- 
ed a light color, in harmony with the hue of the almost white 
limestone of the piers and coping. A pleasing contrast is afford- 
ed by the red granite of the bases and the dark grey of the 
wall below the coping. The pedestrian gates are eight feet in 
width, the carriage gates about twelve feet each, and the latter 
are designated respectively, to the right and left, by the words, 
"Entrance," "Exit," which are cut in the stone piers on each 
side. The road-ways between the four gate-ways are substan- 
tially paved with stone blocks. Within the park, at a distance of 
two hundred feet from the outward line of the entrance, on each 
side of the main drive, stands a stone column of cut limestone, 
bearing a vase, marking the inside line of the two hundred feet 
strip which, as elsewhere explained, runs around the park. An 
evergreen hedge and a neat wooden fence connect these boundary 
columns with the terminal columns of the entrance. 

The construction of the entrance we have briefly described 
was a difficult and expensive piece of work, as a considerable 
amount of filling-in had to be done in order to effect a satisfactory 
grade. The stonework of the piers and walls was executed 
in the most careful and artistic manner, with a view to per- 
manence and beauty. The design was controlled by a desire 
to combine grace and freedom in the outlines ; to render the 
structure impressive and appropriate to the park scenes be- 
j^ond it, without employing any other architectural features 
than graceful columns set at intervals, adorned by artistic 
bronzes, connected by an airy lace work in iron, flowing in curv- 
ing lines. The distance of two hundred and fifty feet between the 
projecting curves affords ample freedom to the approaches, and 
the light color of the stone in the piers and columns and of the 



26 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

painted iron work assists the effect, showing to advantage against 
the dark green of the foliage bej'ond. Large trees are not 
allowed to obscure the general outlines of the entrance, but a 
short distance within there is a variety of tree forms ; among 
them some lofty poplars, which add a most appropriate feature. 
The Comptroller of the park designed this entrance ; the iron 
work was executed by Messrs. Shickle & Harrison of St. Louis. 

The gate-keeper's house is situated about two hundred feet 
from the entrance, and a short distance to the right of the 
central drive. It is not a pretentious structure, but is of pleasing 
design, and with its porches and painted roof, adds to the interest 
and animation of the locality. It is not large, but contains suf- 
ficient accommodation for a gate-keeper, with rooms also for the 
convenience of visitors. 

The metallic figures ornamenting this entrance were execu- 
ted at Berlin, the lions being copied from Canova's at Rome, and 
are more particularly referred to elsewhere. 

THE NORTH GATE ^tlAGXOLIA AVENUE. 

The north entrance is not as elaborate in character as that 
on Grand avenue, but is second in importance, and owing to the 
contiguity of the music stand and concourse, the plant house, the 
Shakespeare statue, the gate house and a villa, intended as the 
residence of the Superintendent, built within the two hundred 
feet strip, forms a prominent feature in a most interesting park 
scene. It embraces two gate-ways for carriages, entrance and 
exit, each having double gates ; and two gates for pedestrians, one 
on each side of the main drive and about forty feet distant from 
the carriage gates. Connecting the larger and smaller gate-ways 
is a curving wall with coping, carrying an iron railing ornamented 
with spear heads and other designs ; from the latter, a similar 
structure, varied by a serpentine curve, extends to the line of 
Magnolia avenue. The carriage gates are ornamented by iron 
columns terminating in gilt globes, and on either side, rising 
from a cut limestone pedestal, is a round shaft, colored like 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 27 

red marble or granite, supporting a square stone cap of two 
steps, on' which is a ball of limestone, light grey in color, 
elevated nearly thirt}^ feet. Similar columns stand at the ter- 
mination of the curving wall and railing on the street line, and 
between them, the pedestrian gates, are marked by square stone 
piers of a lesser height, bearing vases. The distance between 
the terminal columns is the same as at the east entrance, viz : 250 
feet ; and the space embraced, where not occupied by drives or 
walks, is covered with close-trimmed sward. From the line of 
the entrance to the inside limit of the 200 feet strip there is, on 
either side, an evergreen hedge and a white railing of wood, and 
on the corner a column composed of oblong blocks of dressed 
limestone, about twelve feet in height, with molding and cornice, 
and above this, in metal, the form of a stag recumbent, with 
branching antlers. 

In its general design the north entrance is somewhat similar 
to the main entrance on Grand avenue, but the columns, etc., are 
not so massive in character, and there is less metallic ornamenta- 
tion. The wide intervals between the columns, the free, curving 
lines of the wall and ornamental railing, and light coloring, were 
combined with a view of conveying the impression to visitors of 
grace and freedom without studied architectural effects. 

The smooth, round shafts adorning the carriage gates, and 
the terminal points of the railing, formerly assisted in supporting 
the galleries in the dome of the Court-house. During the course 
of alterations ordered by the old County Court before the separa- 
tion of city and county, with a view of improving the light and 
appearance of the dome, some of the interior columns were re- 
moved, and, in accordance with the request of Mr. Shaw, were 
transferred to the park and utilized in the ornamentation of this 
gate-way. The design for this entrance was by the Comptroller, 
and the iron work by Messrs. Pauly & Bro., of this city. 

Some beautiful Lombardy poplars stand in the park a short 
distance from this gate-way, and their lofty, waving plumes, 
which can be seen from long distances, indicate the locality with 
all the distinctness of architectural spires, and with a grace inti- 



28 - TOWER GROVE PARK. 

nitely greater. The various objects of interest in the vicinity of 
this entrance are mentioned under separate headings. 

THE WEST GATE KING'S HIGHWAY. 

This entrance consists of two double gates for carriages, with 
side gates for pedestrians, and from the latter curving walls 
extend to the line of the avenue. The distinguishing feature is 
formed of two octagonal towers, one on each side of the carriage 
gates, about forty feet in height, with battlements built of 
rough-faced stone, laid with square joints. These towers can be 
seen from distant points, their grey summits rising with pleasing 
effect above the tree-tops and swelling uplands. All the masonry 
work of this entrance, the towers, the curving walls, and the 
gate-keeper's house on north side of drive, is of rough-faced 
ashlajr, the material being dark grey limestone ; and this, with 
the pointed gables and sharp angles of the house and copings, 
imparts a gothic character to the whole design. The central 
gates are ornamented by lamps in the line of the iron work ; the 
outside walls terminate at the street line in low stone columns^ 
which embrace between them a distance of two hundred and fifty 
feet, through which pass the road-ways and walks right and left, 
having a triangular grass plot in the middle, and also a curving 
piece of sward along the walls. The walls of the gate-house are 
already partially covered with climbing vines, which assists the 
rustic effect of the design; and here, as at the other gate-ways, 
the leafy spires of the Lombardy poplar add their unique grace 
to the vicinity. The plan is copied from the works of Loudon^ 
the great English author on gardening and rural architecture. 

THE SOUTH AND OTHER GATE- WAYS. 

The south entrance, on Arsenal street, is situated almost 
directly opposite the north gate, on Magnolia avenue, and is near 
the middle of the park. It is a neat and tasteful structure, but 
is smaller and less ornamented than the three other gate-ways 
mentioned. It consists of one entrance for carriages and pedes- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 29 

trians, with double gates, eleven feet in width, on each side of 
which is a stone pier, and from these piers a curving stone 
wall, with ornamental railing, is carried to the line of the street, 
and terminates against a column of similar design. These four 
columns and the connecting walls are built with square joints, 
and exhibit solid and excellent workmanship, the inner piers 
being of dressed limestone, and the others of quarry-faced stone. 
The semi-circular space between the curving walls is adorned by 
close-clipped sward, and the road-way between the columns is 
paved with stone blocks. The boundary of the two hundred feet 
strip on each side within the park is marked by a neat wooden 
railing and a trim evergreen hedge, and on the inside corners are 
stone columns bearing vases. There are some fine poplar trees 
to be seen near this entrance ; the drive from it leads directl}- 
to the Shakespeare statue and music stand, and connects with 
Tower Grove and Magnolia avenues. 

The other gate-ways of the park are for pedestrians, viz: a 

covered one on Magnolia avenue, north side, near the children's 

play-ground, and two on Arsenal street, south side ; they are 

somewhat similar in character, with stone piers, and iron gates 

opening on gravel walks connecting with the walks leading east 

and west, and in the vicinity are summer houses and other objects 

of interest. The pedestrian entrance on Arsenal street, near the 

east end, is constructed of rough-faced stone with a pointed arch, 

above which the masonry is carried eight or ten feet, terminating 

in horizontal lines. The sides of the arch are ornamented with 

buttresses with dressed stone caps, and from each side of the 

arch a curving wall, with coping and iron railing extends to the 

street line, terminating against a stone column. From the inside 

of the entrance a light iron railing is carried to the corners of the 

two hundred feet strip, where there are stone columns ; the walk 

leading to the entrance runs between rows of poplars, among 

which are flowering and evergreen shrubs. At the point where 

the approach connects with the walks of the park, is a triangular 

piece of sward, in the middle of which is a vase surrounded b}' 

flowering vines. Among the employes of the park this entrance 



30 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

is called "cemetery gate," probably because of its pointed arch 
and buttresses — its appearance is gothic and picturesque. At 
present these gate-ways are not much used, but they were provi- 
ded with regard rather to future than present demands, and 
as population increases in the vicinity of the park their con- 
venience must be generally appreciated. 

SUMMER HOUSES AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL STRUCTURES. 

In arranging the park for the requirements and pleasure of 
visitors, careful attention has been paid to the convenient location 
of summer houses, well houses, and other structures affording 
shelter from showers and sunshine, or where a drink of refresh- 
ing water may be had for the asking, or by the light effort of 
turning a pump handle. The design has been to make all the 
structures in the park useful and ornamental without attempting 
elaborate architectural effects ; to situate them in pleasant places, 
where the view and foliage are varied and interesting. 

The most important summer house is situated near the east 
gate, on Grand avenue, south of the main drive ; is of large 
size, of substantial construction, but graceful and picturesque in 
appearance, with seats for a numerous company. In the cen- 
tre the roof is oval shaped, with projecting cornice and gables, 
and on each side there is a lower section of roof, sloping and 
forming angular projections. Each division of the roof has a 
fringe of ornamental iron-work along the apex. The roof is 
entirely supported by columns, between which are arches ; in 
warm weather it forms a delightful retreat, as the air currents 
flow into and through the shadowed space of the interior quite 
unobstructed. The floor is neatly paved. The material of the 
whole structure is wood, except a tin covering on the roof ; the 
finish of the cornice, columns and gables is varied and tasteful. 

The children's play-ground and croquet lawn are in the same 
portion of the park, on the north side of the central drive ; and here 
is a circular summer house of considerable size and ornamental 
design, furnished with seats ; trellises radiate from it, planted 



TOWER GROVE PERK. 31 

with honeysuckle and crimson-flowered trumpet vines, and be- 
tween them are gravel walks. Evergreens of different kinds 
surround this pleasant arbor-like retreat ; the shade is always 
cool and deep ; the varying tints of green give a fresh beauty to 
the vistas ; and although not far withdrawn from the principal 
drives and walks, the place has an air of seclusion and quiet. 
The birds appear to love this pleasant spot, building their nests 
in the green hedges, or amid the thick boughs, and on any morn- 
ing in the early summer time their Sittings and warblings may 
be observed and enjoyed by the musing visitor. 

In the centre of the labyrinth there is a small ornamental 
structure in the nature of a summer house, having a little tower 
and circular balcon}^, from which a view may be had of the wind- 
ings of the maze and the varied scene of greenery beyond. 

In the central part of the park, near the south gate, a large 
summer house may be found, quite different in character from 
any already mentioned, and called the pigeon or dove-cot house. 
It has a cupola roof, ascending with diminishing curves, painted 
in parti-colors, the upper portion being arranged for pigeons and 
other birds. The roof is supported by eight double columns, with 
wide spaces between, and a few seats are arranged under its 
shadow. The elevated position of the structure and its graceful 
outlines render it a pleasing and ornamental object. Its roof is 
visible from distant points, rising above the billows of green 
surrounding it, blending harmoniously with the landscape. The 
Shakespeare statue is in the vicinity ; the pond and ruins, the 
music stand, are also not far distant, and the surrounding scenery 
is bright and diversified. These attractions make this summer 
house a popular place of resort. 

There are twelve wells in the park, with cut stone copings 
and pumps, located at various points with reference to the con- 
venience of visitors, and the houses over same are made to con- 
tribute to the ornamentation of the park. Four of these of large 
size, with light circular roofs supported on columns, may be 
considered as summer houses, as they are paved, guttered and 
planted, furnished with seats, and the surroundings are shady 



32 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

and agreeable. There are eight similar structures of smaller 
dimensions, so designed as to form pleasing objects in the views 
in which they appear. 

THE MUSIC STAND, ETC. 

The music pavilion is situated a short distance north of the 
main drive, nearly midway between the east and west entrances, 
on a natural eminence, " green, and of mild declivity." Around 
it are grouped some of the most attractive features of the park. 
The marble busts of famous musical composers adorn the sur- 
rounding lawn ; the Shakespeare and Humboldt statues are within 
short distances ; the plant house and north gate-way are in near 
view ; the labyrinth is a little east and south of it ; a gravel walk 
leads directly to " evergreen circle," only a hundred yards or so 
away. But, perhaps, the greatest advantage incident to the site 
is the wide and beautiful prospect commanded by the elevation, 
which has been preserved by openings in the woodland. To the 
east and north there is an extensive landscape, with the domes and 
spires of the city in far perspective ; and westward there is a 
varied stretch of park woods and lawns, with the city institutions 
on the Arsenal Road in the farther distance. 

The structure is octagonal in shape, with cupola roof rising 
with double curves, and supported by eight double columns, 
between which is a low railing, the bars of which are brightly 
gilded. The stand is constructed of wood ; the floor the musi- 
cians occupy is raised about three feet above the ground ; the 
size of the building and form of ceiling were adopted in accord- 
ance with suggestions made by Mr. Waldauer and other musical 
professors. The structure has steps on four sides, which are 
reached by gravel walks, and stands in the centre of a small cir- 
cular lawn, around which is a wide gravel promenade, bounded 
b}^ a hedge of Osage orange, near which seats are placed for the 
use of visitors. At intervals the branches of the hedge are 
allowed to attain considerable height, and are trimmed to re- 
semble arches springing from a curving line of dark green, a 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 33 

device that adds a feature of beauty and increases the shade. 
Outside of this hedge, separated by narrow, curving lawns, are 
the carriage drives of the concourse, where visitors in vehicles 
gather to listen to the music. There is great variety in the foli- 
age in the vicinity of the music stand, and abundance of shade ; 
but the forest trees are placed without the encircling hedge, so 
that a full view of the pavilion can be had from the concourse. 
In close proximity to the hedge, but outside of same, a perfect 
shade is afforded by the trees, and here visitors may seat them- 
selves or recline on the soft grass and watch the play of the 
fountains or the ever-changing beauties of the landscape, while 
the spirit of music and the glories of summer diffuse their com- 
mingled spells. Between the music stand and the pond and 
fountains are some most charming places, where there is a broken 
and tremulous shade, through which the sun-light falls in golden 
spots on the grass. Here, when the warm days have come, rare 
exotics from the plant house are arranged in groups, their unique 
and graceful forms and foliage adding an unfamiliar beauty to 
the scene, and a sweet suggestion of lands of eternal summer. 

Within the circular lawn and on each side of the walk leading 
up to the east side of the pavilion are the white marble busts of 
Mozart and Eossini, on pedestals of polished granite. The busts 
of Beethoven and Wagner, now being prepared, will soon be 
placed on the south side, and it is probable that other monu- 
ments in honor of distinguished types of musical genius will be 
added to complete the ornamentation of this most attractive spot. 

jrUSIC DAYS. 

There is music at Tower Grove Park every Sunday after- 
noon, during summer, when the weather is favorable, from four 
to six o'clock. Sunday is selected because it is the only day 
when all classes of society are free to visit the park, and the 
effort is made to supply first-class music, without making the 
programme so severely classical as to interfere with its general 
appreciation and enjoyment. When a composition by one of the 



34 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

masters whose bust adorns the lawn is rendered, a banner is dis- 
plaj^ed bearing his name. 

Postlewaite's Band furnished the music during the summer 
of 1883, and also for some years past; on special occasions the 
St. Louis Grand Orchestra and other musical organizations have 
participated in the programme. The attendance of visitors is 
generally very large on music days, and notwithstanding the 
number of carriages often seen on the concourse, no serious 
accident has occurred to disturb the enjoyment. It is be- 
lieved that the arrangement of the drives, the complete separa- 
tion of the pedestrian walks from the carriage-ways, and the care 
taken in directing the use of the drives connecting with the con- 
course, have contributed largely to this result. 

THE CARRIAGE STAND. 

The Concourse ground or carriage stand is situated a short 
distance south of the main drive, and in the vicinity of the music 
stand and concourse drives. It is provided with hitching posts 
and well, with a shelter house in the centre, and the whole is 
surrounded by a light wooden fence of ornamental design. It is 
intended to obviate the inconvenience of the drives being en- 
cumbered with standing vehicles. Visitors coming to the park 
on horseback or in carriages, buggies, etc., and desiring to stroll 
about in the shade while listening to the music, can leave their 
horses or vehicles at this spot, where they will be safe and out of 
the way. The place is surrounded by trees affording shade, and 
care has been taken to make it neat in appearance and in keeping 
with the surroundings. 

BUILDINGS FOR PARK USES. 

The brick and stone buildings in the park were intended for 
permanent purposes, are substantially constructed, and of orna- 
mental character. 

At the east gate there is a two-story brick house containing 
six or seven rooms, arranged for offices and gate-keeper's use, in 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 35 

style resembling a small villa with ornamental porches, of a neat 
■and bright appearance, and adding animation and interest to the 
locality. The offices were intended for the use of park police, 
but are not occupied at present except by the gate-keeper. 

At the north gate there is a similar edifice for gate-keeper 
and park police, facing to the south and west, light and graceful 
in outline, with rooms in the rear for the convenience of visitors. 
To the north of this is a handsome villa of nine rooms, built 
within the two hundred feet strip, intended as the residence of 
the Superintendent of the park, with appropriate offices on the 
first floor. The house is ornamented with bay windows, wide 
porches and balconies, and has a turret and observatory in the 
centre. It is not used at present by any officer or employe, but 
is rented as a residence, and being outside the enclosure no 
inconvenience is caused to the public, as its occupants enjoy only 
the same privileges extended to other citizens. 

It was thought necessary in establishing the park to provide 
suitable buildings for the residence and use of the Superintendent, 
and for the accommodation of park police, but from the opening 
of the park up to the present year, no appointments of this kind 
have been made. The constant supervision exercised by Mr. 
Henry Shaw rendered the appointment of a regular Superin- 
tendent unnecessary, and the appointment of park police has 
been deferred from year to year on account of the expense inci- 
dent thereto. The gate-keepers and other employes are required 
to aid in enforcing the rules and regulations of the park, and 
the former are also required tp keep the grass trimmed in the 
vicinity of the entrances, and to perform other services. 

At the west gate a stone cottage has been erected for the 
gate-keeper, with rustic porch, square bay windows, steep slate 
roof, and gables with irregular edges ; the material is grey lime- 
stone, the same as that used in the towers and walls of the gate- 
way. 

On the north side of the park near the west end, there is a 
stone house, which is the residence of the foreman, and near it 
a stable with ten stalls and sheds for vehicles and tools. This is 



36 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

f 

the work yard of the park, and affords ample accommodation 
for horses, sprinkling wagons, machinery, etc., and is located 
with a view to the convenience of employes, and not to inter- 
fere with the use of drives or walks. The sheds are in a 
semi-circle, with the stone building on the south side, and the 
place is kept as neat and clean as practicable ; it is by no means 
an unsightly object in the landscape stretching westward from 
the central eminence near the north gate. 

THE POND AND RUINS. 

Water, in motion or at rest, must always be an important 
element of beauty in park scenes as in views of uncultivated 
nature, and in creating extensive pleasure grounds, it is often the 
most diflSicult feature to supplj^ The contiguity of the lake to 
the Chicago parks, and the windings of the Schuylkill through 
Fairmount Park at Philadelphia, are opportunities for picturesque 
effects but rarely available, and when stream and lake are absent, 
the best that can be done is to introduce artificial ponds and 
fountains at appropriate places. The western suburbs of St. 
Louis are beautiful, owing to their natural undulations and wood 
land, but they are without water advantages, and in the improve- 
ment of Tower Grove Park the introduction of this element of 
beauty involved considerable trouble and expense. The runs 
that traverse the park from south to north, could only be made 
available for drainage purposes, and the water supply had to be 
derived from wells and the City Water Works. In 1872, when 
pipe was laid to the Asylum for Insane by the County Court, a 
connection was made with it for park uses, the size of the pipe 
being increased from six inches diameter to twelve inches, the 
additional cost being paid by the park management. By this 
arrangement water was obtained for sprinkling the road- ways, 
a most necessary measure in summer, and also for decorative 
purposes. 

The pond is situated west of the music stand, on the upland 
near the Shakspeare statue, a short distance north of the mall or 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 37 

widened central drive. It is oblong in shape ; on three sides, east, 
west and south, is bounded by grassy banks ; on the north side, 
there is a rockery, and an artistic arrangement of stone blocks 
selected from the remains of the first Lindell Hotel, destroyed by 
fire in 1867. These large stones are laid together to resemble a 
ruined facade, including some broken columns, the whole having 
an irregular but graceful outline, and the green vines that now 
cover them heighten the picturesque effect, adding, also, a sugges- 
tion of antiquity. There is an open view to the water on the south 
side between stone copings, and near by are some weeping- wil- 
lows, the banks have not been thickly planted with trees, and the 
sheen of the water can be seen from distant places. 

There is a fountain in the centre of the pond, and a lower 
water jet on each side, some little distance away, and the silvery 
sprays are thrown to a considerable height. The water is turned 
on during music hours, and on all other occasions when visitors 
are numerous ; the pond is not large, but its gleaming surface 
and the play of its fountains add a wonderful charm to many 
vistas opening through foliage — catching the eye suddenly like 
the glitter of diamond in a setting of emerald — the sound of fall- 
ing water blends musically also with the sylvan whisperings of 
the surrounding scene. Boating is not allowed as the pond is 
hardly of sufficient size for that amusement. 

THE LABYRINTH. 

The labyrinth, or maze, is situated a little south and east of 
the Humboldt statue, and removed but a short distance from the 
central drive. It was created for the purpose of adding to the 
park a feature of curious interest, a sylvan mystery appropriate 
to the place, permanent in character and not expensive to main- 
tain. It is semi-circular in shape with the entrance facing north, 
and is formed of evergreen hedges, between which the gravel 
walks run in intricate windings, making it a difficult task for the 
explorer to gain the ornamental little structure in the centre, 
which has a balcony and tower. The hedges are formed of hem- 



38 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

lock and Norway spruce, and American arbor vite, with an out- 
side circle of Osage orange. It requires considerable time for 
such hedges to acquire density and completeness, and this in- 
teresting spot shows improvement each succeeding year ; last 
summer it attracted many delighted visitors, and the difficulty of 
unravelling its mj^^sterj^ was simplified by a plan of the labj^rinth 
printed in colors on card, which was obtainable from an attendant. 
The plan is the same as that of the maze at the ancient palace of 
Hampton Court, but of larger dimensions. A short colonade of 
evergreens leads to the entrance, and the enclosure is protected 
by a neat wooden fence ; the gate is kept locked except on occa- 
sions when many visitors are expected, and an attendant is 
present. 

EVERGREEN CIRCLE AND WALK. 

The liberal and tasteful use of evergreen trees and shrubs in 
Tower Grove has aided materially in producing the rich contrasts 
and variety in the foliage that form its most attractive feature. 
But there are some beauty-spots formed solely of conifers and 
evergreens which are well worthy a special inspection by visitors. 
One of these is "Evergreen Circle," southwest of the large sum- 
mer house, near east gate, which is planted with spruce and 
cedars and pines, many of which have now attained considerable 
height, affording impenetrable shade and creating masses of dark 
green among the lighter and more tremulous foliage of deciduous 
trees in the vicinity. 

" Evergreen "Walk," a little east of the music stand, is also 
a delightful retreat which gathers new beauties with each season. 
It is elliptical in shape, formed of several curving lines of hem- 
lock and Norway spruce and other evergreens arranged in con- 
centric fashion. A gravel walk traverses the ellipse, in the 
centre is a grass plot, and here stands a vase upon a vine-wreathed 
pedestal. There is a charm in this fairy circle, a mingling of 
green shades, a play of the sunbeams, and a spirit-like whisper 
from the swaying boughs that seizes the fancy of the observant 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 39 

or romantic visitor, and leads him back to the place whenever he 
finds himself near it again. 

Apart from the mere beauty of these places, they are in- 
teresting, because of the opportunity they present of viewing the 
various shades of evergreens in juxtaposition, and in exhibiting 
robust specimens of the different kinds adapted to the climate. 



THE PLANT-HOUSE, ETC. 

The plant-house was established for the purpose of supply- 
ing the park with ornamental tropical plants, which are used in 
summer for decorative groupings on the lawns, and in the winter 
are tastefully arranged within the structure, forming a very 
interesting feature for the inspection of visitors. It is built of 
brick, with ornamental pilasters and stone caps ; is situated near 
the north gate, and is oblong in shape, with the long sides to the 
north and south. The principal door-way faces to the south, and 
is ornamented with brick columns, a stone coping and metal 
flower vases, and at the east and west ends there are smaller 
doors and a similar ornamentation. The roof is supported on 
iron girders and covered with slate and glass, and the whole 
structure is substantial in character, carefully finished, and 
is an ornament to the park. It was completed in 1880, and the 
collection of plants is valuable and interesting. During last sum- 
mer the display of exotics near the pond and fountains, and in 
the vicinity of the music stand, created some striking and beauti- 
ful effects. 

The cultivation of flowers not being properly embraced in 
park ornamentation, the use of the plant-house is confined to 
palms and other exotic foliage plants, and the walls and glass 
windows being double, its maintenance is not expensive. 

On the north side of the park and east of the plant-house, 
enclosed by a hedge and railing, there is a small nursery devoted 
to the care of young trees and shrubs. Such a place is highly 
useful in the management of a large park, as it enables trees and 



40 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

shrubs to be replaced when injured or destroyed — a matter of 
constant occurrence — and supplies material for perfecting the 
planting as experience may suggest. 



WORKS OF ART IN THE PARK. 

There is no more appropriate place for the works of the 
sculptor, commemorative of historical characters and exalted 
types of genius, than the public pleasure grounds of a great city. 
Such places are disassociated from all political, religious or social 
antagonisms ; people generally visit them in their happiest, most 
reflective moods, and on days when the cares and anxieties of 
business and labor are laid aside. To introduce among such 
scenes the statues of distinguished men, who, in art, literature or 
science, have conferred enduring benefits on the human race, is 
not only a deserved honor to the memory of such characters, but 
strengthens and widens the influence of their example and of the 
works they have left behind. Here the sculptor's work is seen 
by all classes ; it exercises the influence inseparable from a pro- 
duction of art, and promotes the knowledge and discussion of the 
illustrious character represented. It stands surrounded by the 
perennial beauties of nature, expressing the noble idea that 
humanity is grateful for the efforts and sacrifices of genius, and 
honors its memory by monuments composed of the most endur- 
ing materials. 

It adds greatly to the interest of Tower Grove Park that 
it is adorned by works of art of a high order, all of them 
being commemorative of popular types of genius. On the 
upland, near the centre, stands the colossal figure in bronze, 
of Shakspeare, and some distance to the eastward, on the curving 
edge of the second turn-out, around which the main drive 
branches, is the statue of Humboldt. The statues face each 
other at a distance of several hundred yards, and the boulevard 
or mall between them being quite straight and of great width, 
affords visitors every facility for observing them. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 41 

On the lawn surrounding the music pavilion, which is sit- 
uated a little north of these statues, and about midway between 
them, are the white marble busts of the famous musical com- 
posers, Mozart and Eossini, facing eastward, and on the south 
side there will soon be placed in position the busts of Beethoven 
and Wagner, representing different, but equally famous schools 
of music. A statue of Columbus, in bronze, is also in contempla- 
tion, and should it be procured will probably occupy a site near 
the west gate. 

The metallic figures adorning the Grand avenue entrance of 
lions and griffins, and the recumbent stags near the north gate, 
are also works of art of decided merit. They were designed and 
executed in Berlin, and were imported for the ornamentation of 
the gate-ways by the Board of Commissioners, and are made of 
zinc, which is much less expensive than bronze, but when kept 
carefully painted is almost as indestructible. It is hoped that 
in course of time other works of art will be added to the park, as 
public appreciation of such monuments extends. The lions 
couchant on each side of Grand avenue entrance are particularly 
worthy of notice. One of them is a fac-simile of the celebrated 
weeping lion of Canova, and the expression and pose are striking 
and natural. 

The statues and busts are gifts of Mr. Henry Shaw to the 
people of St. Louis for the permanent adornment of the park, 
and this fact and their high artistic character, render it appro- 
priate to present some details respecting those already in position 
and of their formal unveiling and dedication. Illustrations are 
given of the Shakespeare and Humboldt statues. 

BRONZE MONUMENTS. 

Bronze monuments of large size and artistic value are not 
numerous in the United States, and the Shakespeare and Hum- 
boldt statues are among the most note-worthy. There have been 
some important castings of this kind made in Cincinnati and some 
Eastern cities, but the work of our sculptors has been developed 



42 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

principally in marble. The monuments in the park were cast in 
German3\ long famous for bronzes. 

It is interesting, in connection with this subject, to remember 
that the idea of erecting monuments to illustrious characters had 
its origin in dim antiquity. Indeed, the rudimentary conceptions 
of art seem to have been inspired by a desire to perpetuate the 
memorj^ of distinguished personages ; a desire that has borne 
splendid fruit in the development of culture. In the dimness of 
pre-historic days we catch glimpses of monuments, and the art of 
Babylon and of Egypt was mainly directed to memorials. The 
memories of heroes were idealized into Divinities, and a desire to 
make these gods present to their worshippers has been held to be 
the origin of art. The history of monuments might be said to 
embrace the history of art, and from the ruder carvings, with 
their stiff, almost grotesque outlines, or the single pillar of stone 
set up for a memorial, to the luminous perfection of the Greek 
statues in marble, bronze, or ivory and gold, the same impulse 
controls, accompanied by wonderful improvement in methods and 
materials. The use of bronze was, of course, subsequent to that 
of stone, but it is by no means of modern date. The art of cast- 
ing metals and giving them the forms of sculptured models was 
known to the ancient Greeks, and they brought the art to a con- 
siderable degree of perfection, but the remains of their works in 
bronze that have come down to us are of small size and few in 
number. There is historical evidence, however, that they suc- 
ceeded in producing some beautiful castings. The Romans cast 
bronzes on a larger scale, and the equestrian and colossal statue 
of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, now in the Court of the Capitol 
at Rome, may be cited, particularly, as a chef cVmuvre of the art, 
and to this day it is a question whether it was made in a single 
casting, or in parts, as practiced in modern times. The earliest 
employment of bronze for artistic purposes was to hammer it out 
in thin plates and fasten them together with rivets. There are 
remains of Assyrian bronze older than the time of Theodorus, 
and in the British Museum there is an Etruscan statuette from 
Sessa with a core of iron which is split down the side, owing to 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 43 

the expansion of the iron, showing how unserviceable that metal 
i^ for such purposes. The use of bronze in sculpture is of high 
antiquity. Sir Gardner AYilkinson mentions an Egyptian figure 
of that material, containing a date more than 2,000 j^ears before 
Christ. The date of the introduction of bronze casting into 
Greece is not known, but the Roman consul in the year 130, B. C, 
found at Athens, several thousand bronze statues, and many 
others at Rhodes and Olympia. The Colossus of Rhodes, a fig- 
ure of the sun-god Helios, about seventy cubits high, was of 
bronze. It was overthrown by an earthquake after standing fifty- 
six years. The bronze head of Venus in the British Museum, of 
colossal size, is a beautiful specimen of fine and thin casting. 
Some excellent bronze has been found at Herculaneum and 
Pompeii, and during the time of the Byzantine empire, the art 
was much developed and improved, but sunk with the decline of 
the empire, and was not revived until the middle ages. It was, 
however, the Florentine artists in the fifteenth century, who 
mastered it most completely. Subsequently it was developed 
with remarkable skill in Germany, at Nurenburg, Munich and 
Coburg. The brothers Keller, of Zurich, were employed by 
Louis XIV, to embellish his palace and garden at Versailles ; and 
in 1699, Balthasar Keller was the maker of the celebrated eques- 
trean bronze statue erected by the city of Paris, in the Place 
Louis le Grand, now Place Vendome. The statue was twenty 
feet in height, and thirty-five tons of metal, in one piece, em- 
ployed in its execution. An enumeration of mediaeval bronzes 
would be much too lengthy to give here. In England there are 
some beautiful specimens, viz. : that of Queen Eleanor, who died 
1291, by William Torell, Goldsmith and Jeweler, of London : the 
effigy of Henry the Third, in gilded bronze, and at Canterbury 
the figure of the Black Prince, also of gilded bronze. At War- 
wick is the magnificent monument of Earl Richard Beauchamp, 
who died 1455. 

At the present day bronze is considered the best material for 
the higher order of sculpture, particularly for statues exposed in 
the open air. All marbles and stone are liable to unsightly dis- 



44 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

coloration, and are easily broken. Bronze is practically indes- 
tructible, and although it darkens in hue with age and exposure, 
the change is uniform, and does not produce inartistic effects. 
Bronze statues can be cleansed, however, by a dilute solution of 
caustic alkalies ; an occasional rubbing with oil has been found 
to preserve a fine bronze surface, but all excess of oil must be 
carefully removed. 

THE STATUE OF SHAKESPEARE. 

On Tuesday, April 23d, 1878, this statue was formerly un- 
veiled and presented to the public. It is the work of the eminent 
sculptor. Baron Von Mueller, of Munich ; is supported by a base 
and pedestal of red granite from Missouri quarries, and occupies 
one of the most prominent and beautiful sites that could have 
been selected, viz. : on an eminence near the middle of the park, 
overlooking a charming landscape, and at the point where the 
central drive divides to the right and left, leaving an unbroken 
stretch of lawn and woodland thence to the western gate. The 
statue faces the east ; its elevation is sufficient to enable it to be 
seen from almost any point on the princij^al drives, and from 
some places, owing to the undulations of the ground, its graceful 
outlines are cast in bold relief against the sky. The base and 
pedestal are most carefully constructed, being formed of large 
granite blocks finely dressed with close joints impervious to 
moisture, and the die stone into which four bas-reliefs are fitted, 
is octagonal in shape and highly polished. The first step of the 
base is 18 feet square and 12 inches- in height ; the second step 
14 feet 6 inches square and of equal height, and thence the base 
narrows as it ascends, and is ornamented with handsome mould- 
ings until the die stone is reached ; this is a magnificent piece of 
granite nearly 5 feet square, and 5 feet 2 inches in height, and is 
surmounted by an elaborate cornice, also of granite, making the 
elevation to the cap of the pedestal nearly 15 feet. 

The figure of Shakespeare is of colossal size, and represents 
the great dramatist in a standing posture, one foot slightly ad- 



TOWER GROVE PERK. 45 

vanced and the right hand holding a quill pen. Some folio voliimns 
near the feet assist the impression of a study scene in which the 
poet has just risen from a desk, but no accessories are introduced 
except the loosely bound folios. The costume is careless but 
courtly, its main features being the short cloak, which is partly 
thrown back, and knee breeches of the Elizabethian era. The 
head is uncovered, and the lineaments are modelled after the 
well-known Stratford bust ; the lofty and symmetrical brow — 

"The dome of thought, the palace of the soul—" 

SO inseparable from all delineations of Shakespeare, is wrought 
out with grace and clearness. The whole attitude is free, 
natural and reposeful. The statue creates a satisfactory impres- 
sion and its charm grows stronger with repeated inspections, and 
leaves an enduring memory. Competent art critics have pro- 
nounced it and its companion piece, the statue of Humboldt, 
among the best bronzes in the country. There is no inscription 
on the bronze or pedestal, except the single line cut immediately 
below the feet of the statue: "He was not of an age but for all 
time," being Ben Jonson's tribute to his great contemporary, and 
which, for terse eloquence, has never been surpassed. 

The bronze bas-reliefs below the statue are also of much 
interest, as they illustrate scenes from Shakesperian dramas. 
On the east side is a representation of "Falstaff," as given by 
the well-known St. Louis actor, the lamented Ben DeBar. On 
the north side is an illustration of Hamlet and the Grave Digger. 
On the west, "Lady Macbeth," horror-haunted by her crime, 
and on the south, "Queen Katharine," as she goes forth in quiet 
dignity to meet her accusers. 

Mr. George I. Barnett, a prominent St. Louis architect, de- 
signed and superintended the erection of the base and pedestal in 
accordance with views of Mr. Shaw, and the work is exceedinglj'- 
massive, yet graceful, and in harmony with the noble figure 
that surmounts it. 

The unveiling of the statue and its formal presentation to the 
citizens of St. Louis, April 23d, 1878, was a very interesting and 



^6 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

memorable occasion, although not invested with any elaborate 
ceremonies. The following extracts from the report in the 
Missouri Republican^ of April 24th, 1878, furnish a satisfactory 
account of the proceedings : 

" It was not the desire of Mr. Shaw that the occasion should be 
Invested with any particular formality or display, and except the 
announcements in the press that the event would take place on 
Tuesday, April 23d, no other means were adopted to attract a large 
company. But the announcements were enough, and the attend- 
ance in numbers and representative character were all that could 
be desired. The heavy rains of Monday night and the gloomy 
outlook of yesterday morning created some apprehensions of rain, 
which, however, were happily not realized. The atmosphere was 
cool and balmy, and as the sun glanced out among white and 
golden clouds, the park fairly shone in verdurous beauty. The 
sward and foliage glowed with the indescribable tints of early 
spring, which never looks more exquisite than in "the tender 
shining after rain." As the carriages and buggies rolled up the 
broad drive to the vicinity of the statue most of the ladies and 
gentlemen gathered in groups on the grass or walks, and an admi- 
rable band, under charge of Prof. Vogel, added the charms of 
music to the interest of the occasion. The scene was full of ani- 
mation and beauty, and in its overruling sentiment of affectionate 
homage to the glorious memory which stood incarnate in the 
majestic bronze figure on its pedestal of granite, and the wondrous 
spring bloom and weather flinging their spells afar over the broad, 
still country, created a picture that few who looked upon it can 
ever forget. There were quite a number of ladies present, and 
among the gentlemen were noted the following : 

"Acting Mayor Lightner, Capt. Silas Bent, John G. Priest, Dr. 
Spiegelhalter, D. H. MacAdam, Dr. P. S. O'Reilly, Geo. I. Barnett, 
Phil. N. Schneidar, '^Col. George E. Leighton, Captain M. Doyle, 
De Costa Taylor, Dr. I, N. Dove, Robert A. Barnes, Charles Par- 
sons, John R. Shepley, Dr. Thomas O'Reilly, Capt. James McDon- 
ough, David Dickey, and many others. ^ * * * * * 

THE PRESENTATION. 

" About 5 o'clock Mr. Shaw drove up to the spot, accompanied 
in carriages by the following gentlemen, w^ho had dined with him 
at his Locust street residence: Acting Mayor Lightner, John G. 
Priest, Capt. Silas Bent, John R. Shepley, Capt. James McDon- 
ough, D. H. MacAdam and Mr. Morrisse. Immediately after the 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 47 

arrival the company gathered around the base of the statue. Mr. 
Shaw, standing on the first step of the foundation with Acting 
Mayor Lightner to his right, spoke as follows : 

" ' In presence of the Mayor of the city and others now present 
in Tower Grove Park, I, Henry Shaw, have the honor to donate 
and present to the citizens of St. Louis this statue of Shakespeare, 
with foundation, granite pedestal, bronze bas-reliefs, around which 
we are now standing, for the ornamentation of this park forever, 
this 23d day of April, 1878, being the 314th anniversary of the birth 
of the immortal bard.' 

"Acting Mayor Lightner, in the absence of Mayor Overstolz, 
accepted the statue in a dignified and fitting response, and in the 
name of the city of St. Louis he thanked Mr. Shaw for the magnifi- 
cent gift of the statue, as well as the noble park, the beauties of 
which surrounded them on every side. 

** At the close of the presentation, Mr. Shaw explained the bas- 
reliefs to the company in an interesting manner. 

REMARKS BY CHIEF M'DONOUGH. 

"In response to a call from Mr. Barnett and others. Chief 
McDonough then took a position at the lower step of the pedestal 
and entertained the company with a sketch of Mr. Shaw's history 
since his arrival in Missouri. 'By his liberality the citizens of St. 
Louis enjoyed this magnificent park, and the beautiful botanical 
gardens yonder. This dedication of the statue of Shakespeare was 
owing also to his generosity, and the citizens of St. Louis will ever 
be grateful to him for the gift. The Chief alluded to the futile 
attempts of two authors to prove that Shakespeare was not Shakes- 
peare, and concluded by giving a brief sketch of the immortal 
dramatist's acting before Queen Elizabeth. 

INTERESTING INCIDENTS, SPEECHES, ETC. 

" At the close of Chief McDonough's remarks, Mr. Shaw, with 
the same party that accompanied him from the city, took a drive 
through the park for the purpose of enabling Mr. Barnes, a mem- 
ber of the Board of Commissioners, and other gentlemen, to see the 
recent improvements eflfected by the widening of the drives in 
several places. The party then proceeded to the residence of Mr. 
Shaw at Tower Grove, and were greeted by band music on the 
lawn. In the handsome rooms of the beautiful mansion, quite a 
large party of ladies and gentlemen assembled, and the host was 
congratulated on all sides upon the brilliant success of the statue as 



48 TOWER GEOVE PARK. 

a work of art and the delightful scenes of the day. After an agree- 
able hour spent in conversation, Mr. Shaw proposed a toast ta 
the memory of Shakespeare, and said that, in accordance with 
the wishes of many present, he would call on Mr. D. H. MacAdam 
to respond: 

"Mr. MacAdam said that an impromptu panegyric on the 
name suggested could not be attempted. It was too august in 
literature, too revered in the heart of humanity for hasty utterances 
or frivolous ascriptions of praise. A period of 314 years had passed 
since the marvelous mind was born to whom homage was this day 
oifered. Born in a rough and vigorous age, not distinguished for 
conventional proprieties, but splendidly representative of English 
manhood, Shakespeare, while he embodied the spirit and char- 
acteristics of his times, all unconsciously became the universal 
type of genius. There was something indescribable in his fame and 
influence. The scenes of the day furnish this illustration — that 
here, in this English-speaking metropolis of a far Western country* 
the erection of his statue awakens the applause of all the people, 
and is regarded as the invocation of an influence that advances 
culture and exalts the national character. True immortality 
belongs to him who, with the glorious modesty of genius, cast it& 
fruits upon the stream of ages without a thought of the future. 
The speaker alluded to the social influences of art, and said that in 
promoting their diffusion and in connecting the memory of Shake- 
speare therewith, Mr. Shaw had added greatly to the many benefits 
he had conferred upon the people of St. Louis. 

" Chief McDonough then gave the company a delightful recita- 
tion from Hamlet, and after some remarks by Mr. Barnett, Mr. 
Priest, and others, the company returned to the city at a late hour, 
having spent a most delightful day. 

"During the dinner party at Mr. Shaw's city residence, in tha 
earlier part of the afternoon^ an interesting incident occurred in 
connection with the name of Ben DeBar. 

" Mr. Priest, in proposing the health of Mr. Shaw, alluded with 
much feeling to the appropriate honor paid to Mr. DeBar 's memory 
in adopting as one of the bas-reliefs of the statue, the form and 
likeness of our lamented actor in his celebrated role as "Falstaff." 
He said it was a worthy tribute to a superb actor who was uni- 
versally loved and respected. Several other gentlemen warmly 
concurred in these remarks, and Mr. Shaw thanked them briefly. 
Many anecdotes were told of Ben DeBar and earlier times in St. 
Louis. The party started on their drive to the park about four 
o'clock, just as the clouds dispersed and the sun shone out glori- 
ously." 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 49 

From an article on the unveiling of the statue, in the Missouri 
Repuhlican^ of April 28th, 1878, the following is taken. It is 
from the graceful pen of Mr. Thomas Dimmock : 

It was a happy idea of Mr. Shaw to put no other inscription on 
the magnificent bronze in Tower Grove Park than the simple line — 
"He was not of an age, but for all time." To our mind, the sum 
total of the critical praise which has been lavished upon Shakespeare 
does not equal in depth and felicity of meaning these ten little words 
from Ben Jonson. They are at once the tribute of a loving friend 
and the deliberate verdict of an impartial and perfectly competent 
critic. That they were written hy a contemporary and survivor 
of him whose glory they help to perpetuate is a proof of Jonson's 
wonderful accuracy of judgment; a judgment which has been so 
thoroughly verified that it seems almost miraculous. And, as if to 
convince posterity that it was not a mere chance shot, but carefully 
matured opinion which the future must and would verify, he says 
elsewhere in the same poem : 

" Soul of tlie age ! 
The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage! 
My Shakespeare, rise! I will not lodge thee hy 
Chaucer or Spenser, or hid Beaumont lie 
A little further to make thee a room." 

Not less fortunate than its legend is the location of our statue. 
It stands just where Shakespeare would have wished ; away from 
the throng and noise and dust of a great city, in the midst of a quiet 
scene of rural loveliness where the simplicity of nature has been 
tempered by the refinements of art ; and where art and nature, 
locked as it were in a fond embrace, look abroad over the growing 
empire of a mighty metropolis. At the "New place," Shakespeare's 
home in Stratford, rescued from degradation and destruction by the 
liberality of Mr. Halliwell, they show — in the rear of the site for- 
merly occupied by the house — a small bit of ground, perhaps fifty 
feet long by twenty wide. This, they tell us, is just as the poet left 
it. He called it " Fairy Lawn," and tradition says that when the 
poetic mood was on him he would step from his library window — 
the foundations of which can still be traced— upon the grassy carpet 
-and pace backwards and forwards for hours together, with no 
company but his trooping fancies. He loved to feel the yielding 
turf beneath his feet, to see the blue sky above him, to hear the soft 
sighingof the summer winds," stealing and giving odor." A "fairy 
lawn " such as he never dreamed of owning surrounds his statue. 
Grass and trees and flowers and fountains, all that would have 
gladdened that nature-loving eye and stirred that nature-loving 



50 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

sou], encircles the cunning artist's counterfeit presentment. The- 
birds sing and the breezes play about it. The golden sunlight, the 
silver radiance of the moon, and the tender lustre of the stars fall 
upon it, and the gentle rain gives to the uncovered head the baptism 
of the skies. A bronze picture worthy of Shakespeare is framed by 
a landscape worthy to have been immortalized by Shakespeare's 
genius. 

THE STATUE OF HUMBOLDT. 

In the statue of Shakespeare, the genius of poetrj' and the 
drama is honored, and in that of Humboldt, the intellect, cour- 
age and industr}^ of the Philosopher and Scientific Explorer. The 
one advances culture, develops and refines taste, and provides 
rational and instructive amusement — the other roams the globe in 
search of those truths of nature by which the boundaries of civili- 
zation and science are extended. 

In Tower Grove Park the statue of Humboldt stands on the 
western edge of the second turn out which divides the central 
drive. It faces west ; is situated one or two hundred j^ards east 
of the Shakespeare monument, with an unobstructed view from 
one statue to the other, the drive or mall between them being 
perfectly straight and of great width. 

The statue is also the work of Mr. F. Miller, of Munich, and 
has a prominent site, somewhat less elevated than that of Shakes- 
peare, but on the main drive, and quite near the concourse and 
music stand. It stands upon a pedestal and base of Missouri red 
granite, designed by Mr. George I. Barnett, architect, of the 
same general character as the support of the other statue, but, 
not quite as large or massive. The base rises in three steps : the 
first 15 feet 6 inches square; the second somewhat over 11 feet^ 
and the third 8 feet 4 inches square, with a total height of about 
3 feet. The pedestal, which is ornamented by mouldings, is 8 
feet in height, of polished granite, with cornice, and in each of its 
four sides a bronze bas-relief is set. 

The relief on the west side, fronting the drive, bears in large 
letters the words ' ' Alexander Yon Humboldt. ' ' That on the south 
side, a landscape view of Mount Chimborazo, inseparably asso- 



TOWER GROVE PERK. 51 

ciated with the life and works of Humboldt, because he described 
it and was the first to gain its towering summit. On the east side 
there is an excellent likeness of Mr. Shaw, and underneath it the 
inscription : ''In honor of the most accomplished traveller of this 
or any other age. Erected by Henry Shaw, 1878." On the 
north side the bas-relief depicts a view in the Valley of the 
Amazon which is an eloquent suggestion of travel in tropical 
lands. 

The statue is eleven feet in height and represents Humboldt 
as he appeared in the prime of early manhood ; in this it differs 
totalh' from all existing busts and statues, which depict him in 
his maturer j^ears. The form is tall and symmetrical ; the features 
clear cut, handsome ; the brow high and intellectual. The head 
is uncovered and slightly bowed, as if half in reverie, or in medi- 
tative contemplation of a scene viewed from a mountain height ;- 
the hands are crossed and the left holds a partly rolled map, and 
the figure leans against the stump of a tree on which a cloak has 
been loosely cast. The costume is one adapted for travel, accord- 
ing to the fashion of the time, and its details are wrought out 
with exquisite fidelity and care. The whole attitude is suggestive 
of thoughtf ulness and rest, and the outlines are free and natural. 
The statue has been highly admired on account of the graceful 
ease and naturalness, which form its most remarkable character- 
istic, and has advanced the sculptor's fame in America and 
Germany. 

THE UNVEILING AND PRESENTATION. 

The unveiling and presentation of this second work of art, 
donated for the permanent ornamentation of the park, took place 
on Sunday, November 24th, 1878, and, as Humboldt was an 
illustrious German, the ceremonies were appropriately placed in 
charge of representatives of the German- American societies of 
St. Louis. This fact imparted to the occasion more publicity and 
display than accompanied the unveiling of the statue of Shakes- 
peare, and the event was celebrated by an impressive pageant 



52 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

and an immense attendance. The following extract from a pub- 
lished report fully describes the character of the proceedings : 

Yesterday's was a great event among the Germans of St. Louis. 
The various German societies, of whatever character, had arranged 
to take part in the ceremony, and each society had, of course, a large 
number of friends whose presence was assured. So it was, that, 
about noon, all the streets leading to the park presented much the 
same appearance as those which lead to the Fair grounds do 
on the big Thursday of the Fair. The cars of the Gravois line and 
the Chouteau and Lafayette avenue lines carried immense burdens, 
and hundreds of public and private vehicles swelled the throng 
and contributed to the clouds of dust. At one o'clock, the hour 
fixed upon by the committee of arrangements for the forming of a 
procession at the main entrance to the park. Grand avenue was 
densely packed through its entire width, and for a hundred yards 
north and south, with a buzzing mass of people. Society standards 
and uniforms gave a pleasant air to the scene, and everybody seemed 
to be enjoying the occasion. 

Under the direction of Grand Marshal Rapp and his aids, the 
procession formed in three divisions, the first being composed of 
Turner societies, the second of singing societies, and the third of 
miscellaneous societies. Two bands of music were in attendance, 
one being placed at the head of the procession, and the other about 
midway. At 2 o'clock everything was ready, and the order to march 
was given. The following was the marching order : 

FIRST DIVISION. 

^and. 

A large company of little girls belonging to the Turnvereins. 

Committee on arrangements. 

St. Louis Turnverein. 

South St. Louis Turnverein. 

Concordia Turnverein. 

Socialer Turnverein. 

North St. Louis Turnverein. 

Invited guests. 

SECOND DIVISION. 

Arion des Westens. 
Chouteau Valley Msennerchor. 
Freie Mc«nuerchor. 
Germania Ssengerbund. 
Liederkranz. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 53 

Sons of Hermann Meennerchor. 
Orpheus SiBnoferbund. 
Rheinischer Frohsinn. 
Rock Spring Sjengerbund. 
Socialer S^ngerchor. 
St. Louis Turner Singers. 
West St. Louis Liederkranz. 
Washington S?engerchor. 

THIRD DIVISION. 

Band. 

American Protestant Association. 

Order of Harugari. 

Sons of Hermann. 

Typographical Society. 

Concordia Lodge Ancient Order of Workmen. 

The little girls in the First division carried pretty banners, on 
which were German inscriptions reading as follows: "To the 
Greatest Naturalist of All Times." "Light ! More Light ! "—Goethe. 
"Excelsior; " "Live So That When You Have Departed Hence 
Your Life- Work Remains ; " " Nature is the Kingdom of Liberty " 
— Humboldt. ''The Moral Feeling in Us; The Starry Heavens 
Above Us " — Kant. " Per Aspera ad Astra ; " " Kosmos — Das All." 

The procession was nearly a mile in length, and as it followed 
the splendid drives of the park, and wound in and out among the 
trees, it presented a beautiful picture to the thousands who stood 
near the statue on the eminence, nearly a mile from the entrance. 
It was flanked by a large crowd of admirers, and made but slow 
progress. 

When at last it reached the objective point, it formed in lines 
around the statue, and the expanse of humanity was far greater 
than it was possible for the human voice to cover. 

The ceremonies then began. A composition of slow, sweet music 
was rendered by the bands after which the singing societies, under 
direction of Prof. Hans Balatka, sang "The Prayer Before the 
Battle," with grand effect. The statue, shrouded in an American 
flag, and to all appearances a great shapeless thing was the central 
object of curiosity. 

When the singing was ended, Mr. Preetorious, who had been 
called upon to conduct the exercises, arose from his seat on a small 
stage near the statue, and with a few words of congratulation 
introduced to the audience as the first speaker, Mr. Carl Luedeking, 



54 TOWER GKOVE PARK. 

who delivered an address in German, to which the closest attention 
was paid and from which the following extracts are made : 

ADDRESS OF CARL LUEDEKING. 

" The discoveries of genius remain. We owe them all we have ; 
they are for all time and forever. Never young and never old, they 
bear within themselves the seeds of their own life. They flow on- 
ward in an eternal, immortal stream, and in after centuries often 
operate with greater power than they could at the moment they 
became known." These words of Thomas Henry Buckle, with 
which we celebrated, nine years ago, the centennial memory of 
Alexander von Humboldt, we recall to-day, because we stand at the 
foot of the monument which the generosity of a highly honored 
citizen of this city has erected in this park to him we then honored. 
Honor to the noble founder, to the able donor and patron, who has 
thereby again obligated this citj^ to lasting gratitude, and in that 
he has honored the hero of the spirit, has honored himself as a 
philanthropist and world's citizen — mindful of the words " Set not 
thy heart on riches that only adorn life temporarily," for "of all 
life's aims fame is still the highest — although the body returns to 
dust a great name forever lives." 

So also we, fellow-celebrators, honor ourselves only when we 
honor him, the great genius, and by our participation in this cele- 
bration acquire the right to make the boast, '' He was of us ; " or 
else what could we add to his world-wide reputation which fills the 
circle of the earth ? -x- ^ if * * 

The monumental significance of Humboldt is comprized in three 
words — world traveler, the world philosopher and the world citizen- 

Of the world-traveler? Now he, 300 years after the discovery 
of America by Columbus and Cabot, made the first great scientific 
discovery voyage to this the New World. Up to that time the en- 
deavors of the navigators had been limited to the exploration of the 
coast borders of the new continent. The train of explorers into the 
interior had only penetrated along the great lakes and rivers ; the 
results were only beneficial to geography and cartography, to the 
knowledge of lands and peoples, and Humboldt was the first person 
to leave Europe with such plenipotentiary powers from the Spanish 
government as : 

" To make his observations everywhere, to use his instruments 
to measure mountains ; to collect the products of the land, and to 
undertake everything that he considered necessary for the progress 
of science." 

During five long years the then unexplored regions of the Ori- 
noco, of the Magdalen river, of the Upper Amazon, the mountain 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 55 

chain of the Andes, Peru and Mexico were traversed and thoroughly 
explored ; 700 new observations of places by astronomical means, 500 
barometrical measurements of heights were made ; 3,500 new plants 
defined and the Chimborazo ascended to the height of 18,000 feet, 
the highest which the foot of man had trodden up to that time. It 
was the greatest and largest scientific world-voyage, which up to 
that time had been undertaken by a private scholar, with his private 
means, at the expense of half his wealth. 

Thus was Humboldt the second, the scientific discoverer of the 
New World, and an enthusiastic admirer justly celebrates him, with 
and by the side of Columbus, in the words : 

"But thou liast cliscorered uew worlds in a new world!" 
The verdict of this world and that hereafter is : 
" He— Columbus gave the body, thou the spirit." 

The fruit of his world-voyages ripens during the last 30 years 
of his ninety-years' life, into his model work, the " Cosmos," i. e., 
the universe. 

The Cosmos bestows upon Humboldt the monumental distinc- 
tion of the world-philosopher — to place the appearance of physical 
objects in general connection, to conceive nature as a whole animated 
by interior powers, is a grand effort. He endeavors to compress the 
results of the empirical natural sciences, which have increased so 
giganticalh' since the eighteenth century, and to make them com- 
mon property. He intends no encyclopedia of the natural sciences, 
but a conception of the individual in its relation to the whole. He 
does not attempt to deduce nature from reason, since without a 
knowledge of the individual every great and general world-contem- 
plation is only an air picture. Although in case of insufficient 
material of known facts the philosophic speculative explanation of 
nature may prevail, yet, with the increase of the material of induc- 
tive knowledge, tho inspiration for the nature-philosophy grows 
cold : the smoke of the brighter Saturnalia is gone. 

So the cosmos, in place of the nature philosoiohy, has broken a 
path for the philosophy of nature. 

This is the New World wisdom, which nature, in her own ap- 
pearances and laws, seeks to understand, in contradiction to the 
Old- World wisdom, which constructs nature out of "ideas," as to 
theology, that leads her back on an unnatural plan. And the 
starting-point — the corner-stone of this New- World wisdom — is the 
•Cosmos of Humboldt. 

The character of world-citizenship, which we claim for Hum- 
boldt, necessarily follows from what has been already said. As the 
•world in its nearness and distance, everywhere, and so far as he 



56 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

could lay hold of it, was his home, so was mankind his nation. The 
highest good, the highest aims and objects of mankind he did not 
find in the sole possession of any one nation, but of the whole civi- 
lized world. No where do we meet in him national prejudice, 
national animosity , and the petty jealousy — " national learned men's 
self-conceit." He knew no "chosen people" and "the land of 
promise" lay for him neither this side nor that side of the Rhine. 
He was a friend of free institutions, he hated princely as well as 
priestly arbitrariness. * 4(- * * * 

All this statue teaches and informs us. Ought it to have no 
monumental signification for us ? Before us lies a continent, an ever 
yet "new world ; " its discovery not completed, its exploration not 
concluded. Under our eyes light and darkness, enlightenment and 
superstition, knowledge and ignorance, are struggling tor the mas- 
ter^^ in this state. Shall we stand inactive by and not much rather 
group ourselves under the banner of the free, enlightened school of 
the free, enlightening speech and press. Superficiality casts away 
everything as useless that goes beyond its narrow horizon. May, 
however all teachers remember that a capable race of men can only 
spring from youth that has learned to strive earnestly. 

And finally, we are in a free state, which is laid out upon the 
basis of world-citizenship and common rights of man, yet moves in 
a very primitive, rude and unfinished condition, and awaits com- 
pletion by our hands. With such a beginning ought not the con- 
fidence of the old man of 85 who never doubted and erred in the 
principles " that would certainly outlive him," encourage us. 

So indeed since on the floor of the purely human there can never 
be inapproachable heights nor unconquerable depths, may we also 
approach nearer to this great spirit and by our action, dare to boast 
" He was of us." 

At the close of Mr. Luedeking's speech, the chairman intro- 
duced Mayor Overstolz, to whom, in his official capacity, the statue 
was ostensibly presented. His honor spoke but briefly, prefacing 
his remarks with the statement that it was impossible for his voice 
to reach even a large portion of the great crowd. He stated that 
with the deepest gratitude, he, as chief executive, and on behalf of 
the people of St. Louis, accepted from the noble donor this magnifi- 
cent work of art. As a German, he congratulated the great philan- 
thropist from whom this gift came, for selecting as a subject of the 
sculptor one of the representative men of German science and 
thought and genius. Henry Shaw needed no monument to preserve 
his memory in the hearts of St. Louisians, for every foot of the vast 
lands owned by him was his monument, and so long as St. Louis 
remains a great city the people can never forget the man to whose 
beneficence so much of that greatness is due. Mr. Shaw has 



TOWER GROVE PARK. / 

devoted his life and his vast fortune to the interests of the people of 
his adopted city, and the coming years will only add lustre to his 
name. 

The mayor's remarks were loudly applauded, and when he 
ceased and caught the rope by which the revelation was to be made, 
there was a perfect silence over all. There was a little difficulty in 
the movement, but after a couple of strong pulls, the flag fell away 
and the crowd beheld the statue with one universal burst of ad- 
miration. 
The little children of the Turner societies now strewed the base 

with flowers, while three cheers for Henry Shaw rung out and 
woke the echoes far away. 

Prof. AY. T. Harris was then introduced and addressed the 
vast audience as follows : 

ADDRESS OF W. T. HARRIS. 

Fellow CUize'ns of St. Louis: — The statue has been unveiled and 
the tasteful decoration with flowers has been made— the fair hands 
of children, in whom we see the blossom of the future's hope, dis- 
pensiug the blossoms which a late springtime has given to the 
vegetable world — and the venerable form of him we honor rises to 
view. The benignant face which knew no object in nature so abject 
and humble, or seemingly so remote from the spheres of usefulness, 
that he did not deem it worthy of devoted, patient studj' — that he 
did not deem it of scientific value. The kind lineaments of his 
noble face now look out over this fair landscape and reflect back 
into the heart of the beholder the sentiments of generous hope and 
lofty aspiration. 

To the tired laborer who comes here from the dusty mills of you 
smoky city; to the brain-wearied merchant or professional man, 
who escapes here from the worries and perplexities of business; to 
the care-worn woman and to the forlorn child whom untoward fate 
has cast upon the world to encounter its trials and eat the bitter crust 
of poverty and struggle ; to the just and the unjust, to the good and 
the bad, this beautiful grove appeals as with a mother's soft voice 
alluring to rest and recreation. But with a potent and penetrating 
spell upon the spirit. This statue shall draw within its influence 
and heal those toil oppressed who wander here. The kingly form 
towering in the strength of what is noble in man — the Olympian 
brow, the penetrating eye that is not to be deceived by appearances, 
the indomitable will which knows no fear and has banished all des- 
pair — more than all this the expression of confidence in the ration- 



58 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

ality of the principles underlying the world, a perfect assurance 
that nature rightly interpreted is man's friend, a faith in the ability 
of the human mind to grasp the secret of nature — a faith in his own 
abihty to labor successfully to comprehend the rationality of the 
world. These are all made visible by the magic hand of the gifted 
artist who moulded the form which commands our attention as the 
central and chief object of this landscape, and its influence shall 
cause the weary and drooping man to gain new courage and fresh 
strength to take up his burden of life. The weak and sinful in its 
presence shall become suddenly conscious of the existence within 
him of the divine ideal of humanity, deep buried though it be under 
crime and animal indulgence. He shall here feel how preferable is 
the life of wisdom, "whose ways are ways of pleasantness and 
whose paths are paths of peace." The leaders of men, fatigued by 
the cares of state or the worries incident to the exercise of directive 
power shall be refreshed and encouraged by the look of recognition 
which greets them from this serene face, confident in its purpose, 
confident in its assured strength, confident in the unity of its scien- 
tific ideas with the objective principles and laws of nature itself. 

Need I utter the feeling of all present by saying that this gen- 
erous gift from the man whom the people of St. Louis honor in their 
hearts as the model and pattern for all rich men, that this gift is 
one of the happiest conceptions in the long series of deeds that have 
their origin in the humane thoughtfulness which he has exercised 
by night and by day for the comfort and happiness of his fellow- 
men. To the lovely glimpses of nature served up in this park and 
in the adjacent botanic garden, the various language spoken by the 
visible forms — "A voice of gladness for man's gayer hours, and a 
smile and eloquence of beauty that glides into his darker musings 
with a mild and healing sympathy that steals away the sharpness " 
of his melancholy, we have a higher ?ource of consolation added in 
this form of one of nature's noblest men set up in the midst of scenes 
so beautiful. The human form, the likeness of man in his noblest 
moments, the look of conscious recognition on the face of our lofty 
brother — these add what is lacking in the restoratives of mere 
nature, however beautiful it may be. By this spectacle each one 
comes home to himself, but not back to his weak and weary self — 
he returns strengthened and refreshed, for he has felt his unity with 
the strength of humanity and has taken by the hand his mighty 
brother. 

The kindly regard and scientific interest in the world, which 
look out from this colossal bronze suggest to you, I doubt not, 
another face beaming alike with friendly interest for his fellow- 
men and with warm love for science — a face which when it looks on 
these grounds from a lofty pedestal erected by the gratitude of the 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 59 

<3itizeus of St. Louis, will always suggest in a striking manner the 
spiritual kinship of the two men who filled different spheres, it is 
true, but who were in sympathy in their love of nature and their 
love of man, and whose serene spirits impressed upon their features 
common types. 

It is not the time upon this November day and in this place for 
me to detain you for a rehersal of the deeds which made Humboldt 
the leader in the modern scientific movement. I must not pause to 
mention the vast ideas which now inspire the method of the great 
process of scientific investigation ; the principle announced as the 
basis of Humboldt's great work, the "Cosmos;" "a desire to com- 
prehend the phenomena of physical objects in their general con- 
nection, and to represent nature as one great whole, moved and 
animated b^^ internal forces." A principle which moved him to 
undertake his vast experiments in botany, physiology, chemistry, 
geology, astronomy, meteorology and to master entirely the vast 
literature of those sciences and to plan out the series of local obser- 
vations which are necessary to enable us to know the law of phe- 
nomena — especially of meteorological phenomena and the limits of 
l)lant-life and animal life as conditioned by latitude and altitude 
-above the sea and various atmospheric conditions. 

I may in closing my remarks only allude to his immense scien- 
tific expeditions occupying thirty years of his life and rivaling the 
famed scientific expeditions of Alexander the Great, which gave 
the world for two thousand years the matter of all the science it 
possessed. His journeys through Mexico and South America, and 
the Siberian wilds have, I may say, the most immediate interest 
to the social world of our time as well as a purely scientific interest 
for all time. 

It is the science of nature that has made the human mind teem 
with useful inventions ; it is the application of useful inventions to 
industry that increases in a myriad fold the productivitj" of the 
human race. It is the action of natural science that causes a per- 
petual progress to go on in the individual branches of industry. 
This it is which creates new industries and destroys old ones — 
continues to drive the laborer from his vocation into a new one. 
The suffering incident to this vast movement in the trades and 
occupations of man is to be cured by the results of the same studj" 
of science that causes it. 

It is, more than all, Humboldt who explored new unsettled 
countries and took an inventory of their wonderful treasures in 
the mineral^ animal and vegetable world, and who has revealed to 
us their vast possibilities for the support of the teeming millions of 
the human race which must emigrate from their old homes and build 
anew their shattered fortunes on the frontiers and border lands of 



60 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

civilization. This it is which has suggested the immense movement 
of peoples from old civilizations into the new worlds — the Austra- 
lias, the Mississippi valleys, the Pacific slopes, the South American 
plains of the world. This it is which affords the antidote for any 
evils which too rapid change of human industrial vocations pro- 
duces. This it is which is the banner of the march in the movement 
of civilization. 

In a neighboring park there stands an erect figure with stern. 
Roman features fixed upon a scroll on which you read the legend : 
'' There is the East, there is India.'' The legend which should be 
inscribed under the finger of Humboldt, pointing to the South, is : 
"There is Mexico, there is Central America, South America and 
the isles of the sea. There are El Dorado and the fountain of youth r 
where those who have fallen out of their places, in the line of civ- 
ilization, may build anew their shattered fortunes c" 

The celebration closed with a splendid rendition of Kruetzer's. 
Hymn to Fatherland by the chorus, followed bv band music. 



THE BUSTS OF MOZART AXD R0SSI>r[. 

On Sunday afternoon, July 16th, 1882. an additional artistic 
feature was formally presented to the public, and dedicated for 
the ornamentation of Tower Grove Park — the marble busts of 
Mozart and Rossini were then unveiled in the presence of a large 
assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, the occasion being appro- 
priately garnished by music and eloquence. 

The busts are the work of Howard Kretehmar. sculptor, of 
St. Louis, and are forcible and animated in contour and expression, 
and form an excellent illustration of the genius and technical 
skill of the artist. The bases of the pedestals are of limestone, 
beautifully dressed, from which rise circular shafts of Missouri 
granite, highly polished: the caps are of limestone, rectangular in 
shape, and the busts of pure white marble, and are elevated about 
ten feet from the ground. The site is on the east side of the 
music stand, Mozart to the right and Rossini to the left of the 
gravel walk leading up to the steins, and the busts are sufficiently 
elevated to be in clear view from the concourse drives. The 
name of each composer is cut in large letters — brought out 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 61 

with great distinctness by gilding — on the cap of the respective 
pedestals. 

The unveiling took place between four and five o'clock in the 
afternoon, and, notwithstanding somewhat threatening weather, 
the music stand was surrounded when the ceremonies opened, 
with thousands of people, and the drives of the concourse crowded 
with carriages. 

The St. Louis Grand Orchestra occupied the music stand ; 
Postlewaite's Band was stationed at another point a short distance 
■esist, and forty members of the Liederkranz were assembled 
around the busts to add the charm of vocal music to the occasion. 
The orchestra opened the programme with selections from Mozart's 
''Don Giovanni," and when the exquisite strains ceased Mr. Shaw 
escorted Miss Lena Anton, of St. Louis, the eminent pianist, to 
the busts and she dropped the veil, first, from Mozart, and then 
from Rossini. The unveiling was accompanied by loud applause 
from the compan}^, and the Liederkranz sang Mozart's "Bundes- 
lied" in a most effective manner. 

A low platform had been erected between the busts for 
speakers, and Mr. Henry Shaw now ascended it and addressed the 
audience briefly as follows : 

" Citizens, Ladies and Geyitlemen: — I have the honor of pre- 
senting to the public these marble busts of Mozart and Rossini, as 
ornaments of Tower Grove Park. The musical works of these emi- 
nent composers have long been known and admired in this, and 
all civilized countries. 

Some forty years ago I had the pleasure of meeting the great 
Italian maestro at Bologna, in Italy, and also in Paris. Known and 
respected by all around him, Rossini had a smile for everyone, and 
was the picture of good nature, politeness and affability. 

I hope the memories of these gifted men whose music has beei 
frequently heard on the verdant lawns and among the shady groves 
of this open air temple of the muses, may be pleasing to all, and 
that the charms of melodious harmony may continue to shed their 
benign influence around us and ever be a delight to the inhabitants 
of our ' Future Great' city." 

Loud applause followed these brief statements. 



62 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

Mr. Shaw then introduced Judge J. Gabriel Woerner, who 
delivered the following interesting address : 

ADDRESS OF JUDGE WOERNER. 

Ladies and Oenllemen — It is a pleasant occasion on w^hich the 
art-loving people of St. Louis this day meet in one of the most fa- 
vored of their pleasure grounds, where art and nature vie to give 
joy to the heart aud delight to the senses. To this lovely retreat 
we have often repaired from the din and turmoil of our busy city^ 
leaving her burning walks and dusty streets, to revel in the delights 
of its grateful breezes and refreshing shades, to rest our eyes upon 
the cool green of its grass and foliage. Hence we have often gone 
forth refreshed in mind and body, with energy renewed and temper 
sweetened, better fitted, morally and physically, to fight the battle 
of life. Here we have listened to the entrancing sounds which 
steeped our senses in delight and purified our souls, elevating us 
into ideal realms of a higher and brighter life. Here, too, the rigidr 
unbending bronze, the lifeless marble, w^rought by the sculptor's 
cunning hand, is made eloquent of spiritual life, revealing to us the 
exalted and divine, confronting us with the intellectual giants who 
made science and art subservient to our wants and pleasures. 

We are here to-day to witness a new triumph of art ; to do 
reverence to genius made visible in marble ; to bow before the 
greatness which these stones so eloquently proclaim, " O Mozart ! 
Immortal Mozart ! How beautiful the countless images of a brighter 
and better world which thou hast stamped on our soul ! " Do you 
not feel the truth of these impassioned words of Schubert, himself 
a high-priest in the Temple of Song? Do they not find echo in your 
hearts, you that have been soothed in sorrow and distress, com- 
forted and reassured when doubt and despair tortured your soul> 
exalted and strengthened in your faith by his heavenly music? 
And yonder Rossini ; who fails to recognize the stamp of genius 
impressed by genius on the frigid stone? Greatest of all of sunny 
Italy's composers, peer of all the world's musicians in moulding the 
musical taste and elevating the musical standard of his nation, of 
the world, well may he take his place by Mozart's side. 

The choice of these two figures, as guardian geniuses of music's 
temple, was a happy inspiration. They connect more aptly perhaps 
than any other two masters, the music of the two most musical 
nations of the European continent. It was Mozart who infused 
new life and vigor into German opera music, which until his own 
time was entirely modeled after and dominated by the Italian tastc 
It was Rossini who, following up the innovations of the German 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 63 

master, introduced the new style in Italy. Tog-ether they may be 
looked upon as the great musical reformers who created the modern 
opera, of which "Don Giovanni " and " Die Zauberfloete " by the 
German, and " II Barbiere de Seviglia" and " Gillaume Tell " by 
the Italian master, are sparkling gems. 

In another respect do these figures belong together: They 
represent the links which join together the music of the eighteenth 
with that of the nineteenth century. So completely and success- 
fully did Rossini perform the work for Italy which Mozart had 
accomplished in Germany, and so near together are the dates of the 
death of one and the birth of the other, that a believer in metem- 
psychosis might plausibly assert the flight of Mozart's soul into 
Rossini's body, when, its mission but half performed, Mozart was 
laid to rest ere yet his years exceeded the half of the allotted three- 
score-and-ten. He. died on the fifth day of December, 1791 ; Rossini 
was born on the twenty-ninth of February, 1792. 

The greatness of both these tone-poets became manifest, at an 
early period of their life, in " that precocity which sometimes distin- 
guishes great genius." Rossini appeared on the public stage as a 
singer at the early age of seven years, to the great delight and 
astonishment of the Bolognese, who promptly predicted that he 
would some day be one of the greatest musicians liviDg — a prophecy 
to the truth of which we bear testimony to-day. Mozart received 
his first lessons on the piano at the age of four, and not only made 
wonderful progress as a performer, but soon composed small pieces 
himself. At the age of six his father surprised him one day intently 
busy with paper, pen and ink, and learned to his amusement, that 
young Wolfgang was writing a concerto for the clavier. His amuse- 
ment gave way however, to profounder emotions on looking over the 
score and discovering in its ideas a depth and beauty far exceed- 
ing the capacity of a child. 

Both Rossini and Mozart were fortunate in descending from 
professional musicians who superintended their early musical 
education. In the case of both there was no hesitation on the part 
of the fathers to utilize the phenomenal precocity of their offspring 
for the purpose of gain ; like Rossini, so Mozart appeared in public 
before he was seven years of age. The young piano player, violinist 
and composer, together with his sister Maria, his senior by only 
four years, and likewise a musical prodigy, started out with their 
father on a concert tour, appearing before princes and highest dig- 
nitaries of state, who vied with each other in bestowing favors upon 
the youthful prodigies. They were most graciously received at the 
imperial court at Vienna; her majesty Empress Maria Theresa, 
seems to have taken quite a fancy to the young musician, for she 
permitted him to seat himself upon her lap, put his arms round her 



64 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

neck aDd kiss her repeatedly. An anecdote is related in connection 
with this visit to the court of Vienna which I repeat from memory 
and which, although I do not wish to be held responsible for its 
historical accuracy, is significant of the artist's character, even at 
the early age of seven years. It is said that young Mozart, unused 
to the exquisitely polished parquetry of the imperial palace, slipped 
a.nd fell as he was leaving the imperial chamber. His sensitive 
nature was deeply mortified and the tears were ready to start ; but 
fierce indignation repressed them as he beheld in the face of Prin- 
cess Christine an ill-concealed smile of derision. At tlie same instant 
Princess Marie Antoinette, the subsequent queen of Louis XVI., 
but a year older than himself, ran up to him, assisted him in rising 
and soothed his wounded vanity by a sympathetic word. "Ah, 
princess," said he with his stateliest bow on recovering himself, 
"you are a true lady, too noble to laugh at my awkwardness. 
"When I grow up, I shall do myself the honor to marry you." 
Alas ! a more tragic fate awaited the lovely Marie Antoinette. 

But I must not detain you with such trifles, nor even indulge 
in giving you a biographical sketch of the lives, of the struggles 
and triumphs of these monarchs in the realms of tone-posey, fall of 
romance and replete with incidents of the highest interest though 
they be. More eloquent lips have spoken their praise, the pens of 
able biographers have recorded their merits ; the genius of the 
artist, the poet, the painter, the sculptor, stirred to enthusiasm by 
kindred genius, has given us a revelation of their greatness. Let 
them arouse your enthusiasm, stir your intellect to admiration, and 
fill your hearts with reverence, adoration and gratitude ! 

But in paying homage to the great masters of the past, let us 
not forget the present. In rendering to God the things that are 
God's, let us not omit to render to Csesar the things that are Csesars. 
America lays but modest claim to recognition for what it has done 
in art. We are engaged in a sterner task than singing, or painting 
our deeds; we are still doing, conquering this continent, subduing 
nature, realizing democracy, solving the problem of free govern- 
ment. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, these are the creations of art — let 
me say with a pride in our people which I cannot quite repress — 
of American art, emanating, let me add with a touch of local patriot- 
ism, which you will pardon, from the studio of your fellow- towns- 
man. American in origin, conception and execution ; the generous 
gift of a whole-souled philanthropist, whose name will go down to 
posterity along with that of our city as its benefactor; a name 
which is uppermost in your hearts and forever inseparable from 
these beautiful grounds, which are of his creation. Yes, there 
is nothing un-American about them, save the marble from which 




o 



tl 



TOWKU (JROVK TAUK. G^> 

they are cut, which came to us from classic land, aud the tone-poets 
whose immortalitj' they bear witness to. Yet hold — let us not say 
so, lest we imply the identification of Mozart and of Rossini with 
Germany, with Italy, with Europe even — too narrow, all of them, 
to claim either of the masters for their own. As their creations 
were not for a day, so they enriched not the land of their birth alone- 
Where music is heard, there is the land of Rossini ; where song i& 
cherished, there is Mozart enshrined in the hearts of the people- 
Universal as the light of day is the light of genius ; it belongs not 
to Italy, but to the human race ; its confines are not Germany, but 
the civilized world. 

Rejoice we, then, that America, too, has part in the precious- 
inheritance which Mozart and Rossini have left to the world. Let 
us carry with us, when we go hence, the assuring conviction that 
art has found a dwelling place in the temple reared in this new 
world to human freedom, and we'll go hand-in-hand with the God- 
dess of Liberty in beautifying and ennobling our existence. 

The address was well received, and at times the heartiest 
applause was given. At its conclusion Judge Woerner. with Mr. 
Shaw, who had stood by his side during the deliver}', was greeted 
by a number of old friends and congratulated on his efforts. Mr. 
Shaw's old acquaintances shook hands with him also, and tendered 
their thanks to him in behalf of all our citizens for his latest gifts. 
The orchestra then played the " La Gazza Ladra " overture, b}' 
Rossini, after which the following programme was rendered : 

Chorus— "Ossian," Beschnitt, by the Liederkranz. 
Overture — " Semiramide," Rossini. 
Overture — '' La Nozze di Figaro," Mozart. 
Introduction and Bridal Chorus—" Lohengrin," Wagner. 
Polonaise de Concert — Solo for violin, flute, clarionet, cornet,, 
horn and trombone, Beissig. 

Cornet Solo— By Mr. James Stevens. 
Chant— Sans Paroles, Tchaikowsky. 

The crowd slowly diminished after conclusion of the speeches^ 
the light rain serving to drive some away. A number remained 
until the close, however, their endurance being fully rewarded by 
the beauty of the music they were fortunate enough to hear. In 
addition to the St. Louis orchestra, Postlewaite's band gave its 



<]G TOWER GROVE PARK. 

regular Sunday afternoon concert, so that there was no cessation 
of music until nio^ht. 



THE TREES AND SHRUBS. 

The remarkable variety in foliage at Tower Grove Park, and 
which forms its chief beauty, arises from the fact that the plant- 
ing included nearly every kind of evergreen and deciduous tree 
and shrub which experience has shown to be adapted to our soil 
and climate. The surface originally embraced no woodland, and 
although at first this was to be regretted, as it involved a delay 
in obtaining sufficiency of shade, it ultimately contributed to the 
success and beauty of the park, by enabling skill and taste 
to arrange the grouping and to form combinations and con- 
trasts which brighten the charm of vistas in summer and autumn, 
giving even to winter a tinge of freshness and green. In the 
work of planting the utmost care was taken ; each tree was set in 
a dug space of five feet wide by three feet deep, staked and tied, 
and every possible measure adopted to insure health and quick 
growth. Mr. Shaw, long prior to this work, had made arbori- 
culture a special study, and the park had the full advantage of 
his information and experience; the success achieved is plainly 
the reward of unremitting care and scientific methods. Within a 
short period sylvan beauties of great variety have been developed, 
affording ample and luxuriant shade and tree forms of sufficient 
height and size for picturesque effects. It is difficult to realize 
that the trees and shrubs have only been planted a period of 
scarce fifteen years — the majority of visitors would probably give 
them a much greater age — so full and deep is the woodland, so 
lofty are some of the trees ; poplars rising to a height of eighty 
feet, and maples, elms, etc., twenty and thirty feet, with wide 
spreading branches, and a shade as deep as could be found in the 
"forest primeval." Apart from its beauty and ordinary public 
uses, the sj^va of the park is valuable as illustrating the growth, 
size and qualities of the various kinds of trees adapted to this 
•climate, and visitors interested in sylviculture or that part of 



TOWER GROVE PERK. 67 

forestry, relating to the cultivation of groves or collective bodies 
of trees, or generally in tree culture, may gather much useful 
information hj examining the specimens and results here pre- 
sented. The Arboretum at the Missouri Botanical Gardens con- 
tains the most complete and extensive collection of forest trees 
in the United States, and the results obtained there were utilized 
in the planting of the park, and assisted in making it not only 
ornamental but otherwise valuable. It should also be stated 
that the first trees planted in the park were donated bj^ Mr. Shaw. 
Many of them were planted before the work of improvement had 
been authorized and others were subsequently added; in all, the 
donation amounted to nearly ten thousand trees. 

The trees were planted in lines, groups and single, with 
reference to shade and the blending of verdant tints in spring and 
summer, and the display of autumn colors. The coniferous or 
evergreens generally in groups, apart from deciduous species. 
The westward view from the central circle illustrates the effects 
sought to be produced. The groups are so arranged that the 
light and dark tints afford vivid contrasts ; the dark foliaged ash 
and elm with the lighter sj'camores and maples, the loftj^ tulip 
and broad-leaved cucumber trees are relieved by the spiral Nor- 
waj's and lofty poplars, interspersed with groups of sweet gums, 
lindens and scarlet oaks. 

In a communication to the Board of Commissioners, made 
some 3^ears ago by Mr. Shaw, the following remarks were sub- 
mitted resjoecting the planting of the j^ark: "With respect to 
the planting of trees and shrubbery, I haA^e used such judgment 
as a long experience in arboriculture has enabled me to form. 
The finest and best trees adapted to the soil and climate of Mis- 
souri have been planted ; those available for use here have been 
tried and are now well-known, with little probability of much 
further additions to the S3^1va of our countr3^ Next to our native 
trees. Northern Europe has furnished us with the greatest num- 
ber of hardj^, healthy species ; also a few from Siberia, China and 
Japan, but of the vast number of trees and plants introduced to 
science in the last fifty years from Australia, Southern Africa^ 



G8 TOWER GKOVE TAUK. 

Northern India and South America, none have proved available 
here. The cedars, cryptomerias, araiicarias and the eucalyptus 
have all failed, except as greenhouse plants ; the cedars of Lebanon 
and India (so much prized in Europe) have died after repeated 
trials at Tower Grove, and the conifertv of California, from which 
such great expectations were formed twenty years ago, are, with 
few exceptions, laid aside as failures ; the beautiful Pm?fs insignis^ 
of California, dies right out. and Abies Doiiglasii of Oregon, ekes 
out a pun}'' existence, while it is lately announced as having grown 
at Castle Kennedy, Scotland, one hundred feet in altitude and 
nine feet in circumference of stem in forty j'ears." 

There are many thick groves in the park where an umbrage- 
ous solitude may be enjoyed with the delight of a soft, clean 
sward to walk or recline upon, not to be found in wild woods, but 
these groves are situated so as not to interrupt landscape views. 
The trees and shrubs are verj' numerous from the east entrance 
up to the central elevation, just west of the music standi 
on both sides of the main drive, but the stretches of free 
lawn are also frequent, and there is no impression convej^ed of 
crowding. West of Shakespeare's statue there is an almost un- 
broken meadow space stretching away nearh^ half a mile in 
distance, in which there are but few trees, and traversed in the 
centre b}^ the dark green line of evergreen hedges, the woodland 
fringes this open lawn in curving lines, and varied in shapes 
and hues. In order to fully examine the various trees, shrubs 
and evergreen hedges that combine in making the park beautiful ^ 
it is necessary to make the complete circuit of the north and south 
drives, also the main boulevard. Some new sylvan beauty will 
meet the eye at ever}^ point : here it is a Lombardy poplar of 
towering height, a lustrous, tremulous column of green, perfect^ 
without a trace of that decay in the higher branches so often 
seen in this fast-growing, short-lived tree ; or a clump of pines of 
different kinds and shades of green, with massive pyramidal 
forms, and showing a luxuriant, robust growth ; or the graceful 
outlines and delicate green of the deciduous cj'press, a weeping- 
willow drooping low ; a stately and dressy tulip tree, the irregu- 



TOWER CxROVE PARK. 69 

lar but picturesque catalpa, laden with white blossoms : or its 
magnificent relative, the Pauloivnia imperiaUs of Japan ; or a 
Magnolia, the '' larger flowered," "the glory of the forest," as it 
has been called ; or a white-leaved Linden, changing its hue as 
the breeze turns its creani}^ leaves ; a Norway maple, compact, 
tirm and many-leaved ; or its American brethren of infinite variet}^, 
maples, hard and soft, scarlet and black, a horse chestnut or 
its allied Buckeye crowned with rich flowers, a white birch 
with its silver-hued trunk, a purple-leaA'^ed birch, a black 
birch, liquid amber or sweet-gum elms, ashes, oaks, cotton- 
woods, all the representatives of American woods, and many 
unfamiliar and foreign looking trees from lands afar. A pause 
ma}^ be made also to examine the various shrubs, and ever- 
green hedges and borders, all serving a definite purpose in 
the way of ornament or boundary fence. A visitor uninformed 
or not interested in trees will only see a richh^ wooded park, 
shad}^ and cool, but the educated e3^e will observe not only the 
beautj^, but the endless variety- representing the sylva of distant 
lands, and also, as in perspective, the care, labor and expense 
necessary to gather them here, and fit them together in a mosaic 
of living colors for the enjoyment and instruction of the people. 
Of such a work, of its spirit and effect, the charming reflections 
of Addison are singularly interesting and true, and applicable to 
the planting of Tower Grove, which was certainly ''a labor of 
love." •• There is, indeed, something trulj^ magnificent in this 
kind of amusement. It gives a nobler air to several parts of 
nature ; it fills the earth with a variety of beautiful scenes, and 
has something in it like creation. For this reason, the pleasure 
of one who plants is something like that of a poet, who, as Aristotle 
observes, is more delighted with his productions than an3^ other 
writer or artist whatever. Plantations (parks) have one advan- 
tage in them which is not to Ije found in most other works, as 
the}^ give a pleasure of a more lasting date, and continually im- 
prove in the eye of the planter. When you have finished a build- 
ing, or any other undertaking of the like nature, it immediately 
begins to decay on 3'our hands ; 3'ou see it ])roiight to its utmost 



70 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

point of perfection, and from that time hastening to its ruin. On 
the contrary when you have finished your plantations (park), 
they are still arriving at greater degrees of perfection, as long as^ 
you live, and appear more delightful in each succeeding year than 
they did in the foregoing." 

In view of the care taken in the planting of the park, the 
variety of the foliage, and the success achieved within a brief 
period, it maj' be useful to give some definite information respect- 
ing the trees, etc.. used in the work of decoration. 

LIST OF DECIDUorS TREES USED IN THE DECOUATION OF THE I'ARK. 

Acer saGcharinum — Sugar maple, native tree, a perfect park 
tree In all respects ; fall tints of foliage verj'- beautiful, but of slow 
growth. 

Acer jylatanoides — Xorway maple, handsome, compact shaped^ 
with varied fall tints ; adapted for park or garden. 

Acer campestre — Europe, compact, slow growth, of round habit, 
corky bark ; suitable for park or garden. 

Acer rubrum — Red or scarlet maple, native species, medium 
size, not quite so compact as the preeceediug, blossoms red and 
seeds red ; a good park tree. 

Acer dasycarpum — Native species, silver-leaved maple, rapid 
growth ; excellent for immediate shade ; liable to wind breaks. 

Acer dasycarpum, var. Wierii laciniatum — Beautifully cut foli- 
age, drooping habit ; a perfect park tree. 

Acer nigrum — Black sugar maple ; all the good qualities of the 
sugar maple. 

Acer spicatum — Mountain maple, makes only a tall shrub. 

Acer pseudo platanus — Sycamore ; European. 

Asimina trihola — Papaw, highly' ornamental foliage. 

uEsculus hippocastanum — English horse chestnut ; has hand- 
some flowers. 

^sculus rubicunda — Red flowering horse-chestnut ; small tree. 

Ailanthus glandulosa — Rapid growing tree, exein^Dt from all 
insects. 

Alnus glutinosa — European alder, erect, rapid growing tree. 

Betida alba — European white birch, very graceful tree, mode- 
rate size, silvery bark. 




> 

< 



TOWEK (iKOVE PAKK. 71 

Betula alba, foliis purpureis — Purple-leaved birch. 

Betula laeiniata — Cut-leaved birch, highly ornamental, 20 to 
30 feet high. 

Betula lenta — Black birch, fine tree. 

Betula lutea — Yellow or gray bireh, fine tree. 

Betula alba, yar. populi folia — Fine habit and robust growth. 

Carpinus betulus — European hornbeam, 15 to 20 feet high, bear& 
l^runing well. 

Carpinus Americana — American Hornbe mi, 10 to 20 feet. 

Celtis occidentalis — American nettle tree. 

Carya alba — Shell-bark hickory. 

Carya amara — Bitter nut. 

Carya olivceformis — Pecan nut. 

Carya Porcina — Pig nut. 

Carya tonientosa — Mocker nut. 

Cerasus serotina — AVild cherry, highly ornamental aod some- 
what pendent. 

Cercis Canadensis — American redbud — the Judas tree; very 
beautiful while blooming in April and May. 

Cladastris tinctoria — Native tree, known among nurserymen 
as '• Virgilia," bearing white, sweet-scented flowers; very orna- 
mental. 

Catalpa bignonoides and Catalpa Speciosa. — Very pretty while 
in bloom; native trees. 

Catalpa Bungei — Very dwarf, round-headed tree. 

Cornus alba — White-berried dogwood, native species, low 
growing tree, in fact only a shrub except when pruned up to a 
stem. 

Diospyros Virginiana — Persimmon ; native tree. 

Fagus ferruginea — American beech. 

Fraxinus Americana — American ash ; a tree of very fine shape 
and foliage. 

Fraxinus excelsior — English ash, very subject to borers. 

Gleditschia triacanthos — Honey locust, native tree. 

Oymnocladus Canadensis — Kentucky coflfee tree ; native tree, 
fine ornamental foliage, rough bark, of slow growth. 

Juglans cinerea — Butternut or white walnut ; native tree. 



72 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

Juglans nigra — Black walnut, very fine, round-headed tree. 

Kcelreuteria xjaniculata — A very pretty small tree, China. 

Larix Europea — European larch. 

Larix Americana — Aroerican larch. 

Laurusi sassafras — Very pretty native tree ; the fall tints of 
leaves reddish-brown. 

Liquidamher styraciflaa — Sweet gum, native tree, a very hand- 
some, erect-growing, pyramidal tree, particularly free from attacks 
of insects; a perfect park tree at St. Louis, fall tints of leaves 
varied and beautiful. 

Liriodendron tulipifera — Tulip tree ; a highly ornamental tree 
for park. 

Madura aurantiaca — Osage orange, native, medium size, 
spreading habit, leaves shining. 

Magnolia acuminata — Cucumber tree, native, a pyramidal 
tree, with fine large dark-green leaves. 

Magnolia cordata — Native, similar in appearance to preceeding, 
yellow flowers. 

Magnolia glanea — Swamp magnolia, small native tree, with 
beautiful dark-green, glossy leaves ; flowers white and very fra- 
grant. 

Magnolia Soulangeanci — Forms one of the finest bushy and 
ornamental trees for park or garden; blooms very abundantly 
before the leaves come. Also M. abovata, M. tripetula. 

Morus alba — Mulberry, China; a r(»und-headed tree, with 
glossy leaves. 

Morus rubra — Native, bears purple fruit. 

Negundo fraxinifolia—Bo:s. elder ; a tree of spreading habit 
and rapid growth. 

J^yssa Tnultiflora — Sour gum, native, leaves very brilliant red 
in fall. 

JPaulownia imperialis — Japan, is often killed down to the 
ground by severe winters, but sends up very large ornamental 
leaves in summer. 

Pavia flava — Buckeye, native tree, roundish, compact head. 

Pavia rubra — Native, red flowers, and more slender growth 
than flava. 

Persica foliis purpureis — Blood-leaved peach, very valuable on 
account of the color of foliage; said to be found on the battle field 
of Fort Donelson, Kentucky. 

PkitauHs ocrkhntnJh — Native, buttonwood, large tree. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. /b 

Platanus (trientalis — European, buttonwood. 

Populua halmmifcra — Native species. 

Pnpnhis faxtUjiata — Lombardy poplar, Italy; indispensable as 
a park tree. 

Popnhis (jra'ca — Greek poplar, large, handsome tree, dense shade. 

PopuJna ffrandulentata — American aspen, very fine tree. 

Prqyulus nOira — Erect growing — Popnhis ImoifoUa. Also P. Cana- 
densis. 

Popiilu.s pamsol de St. Julif^v — France ; beautiful drooping tree. 

Plirn>< (■itronnrin — American crab apple, low growing, round- 
headed tree ; blossoms very fragrant. 

Pt/nis speatahiUs — Double flouring apple, China. P. iiibericas. 

Qnercnti alha. Q. tinctona. Q. macrorarpa. Q. hirojitr. Q. nibra. 
Q. imhricaria. Q. jyilustris. Q. roccinca. Q. rahur. Q.prinos. 

Q. castanea. All species of oak. 

Bohinia p.^eud^ acacia — Black locust, subject to borers. 

Salisburia adiantifolin — Maiden-hair tree, Japan, very hardy, 
erect-growing and useful tree, free from insects. 

SaUx Babyionica — AYeeping willow. 

Salix — Wisconsin weeping willow. 

Salix sahnnona. S. alha. H. nigra. S. liicida. Si Bitssilliana. 

Salix ritellina — Yellow willow. 

Taxodium distichnm — Deciduous cypress ; a Southern tree. 

Tilia Americana — Native linden. 

Tiiia EurojKfa — European Linden, a most beautiful pyramidal 
tree. 

Tilia Europcm var. alha — Silver-leaved linden ; a particularly 
handsome tree as regards its vigorous growth, handsome form and 
silvery leaves. 

Tilia Enrojycea, var. laciniata — Cut-leaved. 

Tilia var. platyph>/lla — Yellow twig linden. 

Clmns Americana — American white elm. 

Ulmus campestris — English elm. 

Ulmus campestris var. Bcrardi — Slender growth, columnar. 

Ulmus monnmentalis . 

Ulmus Montana — Scotch elm. 



74 TOWER GROYE PARK. 

ZHnms Montana^ var. Huntingdoni. 
Ulmvs Montana, var. pendAila. 

The foregoing list might be extended b}^ a more detailed 
mention of species, but sufficient is stated to indicate the leading- 
varieties of deciduous trees to be found in the park. 

THE EVERGREENS. 



Ahies alha — White spruce, Northern U. S. and Canada, soft 
glaucous green, conical outline and very beautiful. The spruce- 
beer tree of Canada. 

Abies Canadensis — Hemlock spruce, native, one of the finest and 
most graceful evergreens in cultivation. 

Abies exreJsa — Norway spruce, North of Europe and Asia, per- 
fectly hardy and symmetrical in outline. 

Abies orientalis — Oriental spruce, coast of Black Sea, compact 
habit, conical outline ; a very desirable tree. 

Biota oriental is — Chinese arbor vita?, foliage lively green throug- 
out the winter, bears pruning well. 

Biota orientalis, var. elegantissinia — RoUinson's golden ; highly 
ornamental, compact and erect. 

Chamcecyparis sphceroidea — White cedar. 

Cupressiis mitkanisis or Tlivjiopsis boreaJis — Very compact and 
beautiful ; from the Northwest coast. 

Juniperus Ca»adensis — Low spreading shrub, very handsome^ 
bright green foliage. 

Jnniverus Hibernica — Irish Juniper ; distinct from all other ; 
forms a dense column of green. 

Juwperus langoldiana — Mediterranean, very fine, but requires a 
select place. 

Junipprus prostrata — Vigorous grower, fine dark-green foliage, 
one of the handsomest for dwarf hedges. 

Juniperus rigida — China and Japan ; very distinct and beautiful, 
leaves rigid, ends of branches weeping. 

Juniperus sabina — Mountains of Europe and North America, 
fine for dwarf hedges, leaves dark-green. 

Juniperus Virginiana — K6d cedar, native, a hardy and highly 
decorative tree. 

Juniperus Virginiana pendula — Weeping red cedar, very graceful. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 75 

Juniperus Virginiana glanca — Glaucous leaved red cedar. 

Picea halsamea — Balsam fir, U. S. and Canada ; very fine, but 
short lived. 

Picea Nordmanniann — Mountains east of Black Sea, perfect in 
form, of dark-green foliage, and very dense. 

Picea pectiuata — European silver fir ; not as handsome or desir- 
able as preceeding. 

Pinus Austriaca — Austrian pine, quite hardy and very handsome. 

Pinus Cemhra — Swiss stone pine, slow and erect growth, very 
dense. 

Pinus inops — .Jersey shrub pine, of loose habit, but desirable in 
some places. 

Pinus laricio — Corsican pine, very desirable, lofty and erect. 

Pinus Mugho — Central Europe, dwarf Alpine, round tree or 
shrub, dark-green foliage, and compact. 

Pinus rigida — Pitch pine, native of Eastern States, useful and 
desirable. 

Pinus ruhra — U. S. and Canada, called Norway pine ; Tery grace- 
ful and interesting. 

Pinus sylvestris — Scotch pine, rapid growing, very hardy, but 
short-lived at St. Louis. 

Betinospora pisifera aurea — Japan, yellow tipped, dwarf and com- 
pact, excellent for hedges in favorable locations ; several varieties. 

Thuga ociidentalis — American arborvitee, a fine native tree, use- 
ful for hedges, a very fine dwarf tree. 

Thuga occidentaW, var. globosa — Dwarf, globe shaped shrub. 
" " \2i,x. Hoveifs — A ver3' fine dwarf variety, [fine. 

" " YSiV. pyramidata — Of compact columnar habit, 

'* " XSLY. Peed's — Dwarf and very hardy. 

Thuga occidentalism var. Siberica — Siberian arborvitiie, very hardy, 
excellent as a lawn tree or for hedges. 

Thuga occidentalis, var. verxcvneana — Very distinct, a yellow- 
foliaged variety. 

Thuga occidentalis variegata — Most hardy, excellent in all re- 
spects. 

The forgoing lists were prepared by Mr. James (Turney, of 
Tower Grove. 

THE HEIMiES IN THE I'AK'K. 

Hedges are used in the park, not only for marking" boundaries, 
but also for general ornamental purposes. In many places they 



76 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

contribute to the interest and beauty of landscapes : much care 
has been taken with their planting and pruning, and to introduce 
variety in foliage. The following list of the trees and shrubs 
emplo^^ed, and the notes respecting the management of same, 
will he of service to persons interested in this feature of land- 
scape gardening: 

Pyrus Japonica — Makes a tine compact hedge, bears pruning, 
leaves glossy, and has fine spring blooms. 

Spiriea prunifolia — Neat hedge, producing abundance of pure 
white blooms in May, needs pruning as quickly as blooms begin to 
fade ; if pruned in winter will be deprived of bloom. 

Spiraa Bevesii — Forms a fine hedge, bears pruning. 

Berberries, vulgaris purpwea — Makes a good hedge, purple leaves 
and fruit, bears pruning well. 

Berberries, vulgaris — Same as preceeding, only green leaves. 

Zionicera tartarica — Forms good hedge, blooms in May and June, 
can only be pruned when the fiowers begin to fade ; if pruned in 
winter, bloom is lost. 

Magnolia glauca — Beautiful in all respects, requires winter knife 
pruning, fragrant bloom, pure white leaves, beautiful and glossy. 

Cornus sanguinen — Beautiful in winter on account of its red 
twigs, does not bear much pruning. 

Spirwa aurea — Makes a perfect hedge, bright yellow leaves, 
bears pruning. 

Cratceous pyracantha — Makes a very fine hedge, bears heavy 
pruning, leaves resemble those of the box tree, very glossy, almost 
an evergreen. 

Madura aurantiaca — Osage orange, makes a perfect hedge, re- 
quires and bears constant summer pruning. 

Bosa rnhiainosd — Sweet brier, bears pruning well^ forms a nice 
hedge, and afibrds a pleasant perfume. 

AUps excelsa — Norway spruce makes a handsome hedge, bears 
pruning slightly. 

Ahies Canadensis — Hemlock spruce, handsome hedge, bears 
pruning. 

Thuga occidentalis — American arborvit^e, a compact hedge, but 
turns very brown in the winter, bears pruning well. 

Thuga orientalis — Chinese arborvitse, a compact hedge, bears 
heavy pruning, retains its color, bright green. 



TOWER (tKOVE I'AlfK. 4 t 

Junfperus Virginiana — Red cedar, forms a good hedo-e and com- 
pact by pruning- priucipally on the top and very slightly on the 
side. 

Juniperus prostrata — Prostrate juniper, forms an admirable 
dwarf hedge. 

Juniperus sabina — Savin ; a good dwarf hedge, bears pruning. 

Among the most beautiful hedges are those to be found along 
the boundar}^ fence, in the labyrinth, or in the vicinity of the 
music stand and gate-ways. 

THE DARBY TREES. 

In 18G8, John F. Darby, a well-known citizen and lawj-er of 

St. Louis, and Mayor of the cit}' during the years 18o5, '30 and 

'37. and also during the year 1840, presented to the park a small 

collection of trees from North Carolina. They are planted near 

the north drive in the eastern end of the park, and a plain marble 

slab stands at the spot bearing the inscription: "Trees from 

North Carolina, presented by John F. Darby, 1868." The ti'ees 

are also mentioned bv name : 
• "^ 

Liriodendron — ^Tulip tree. 

Liquid Amber — Gum tree. 

Pinus Tceda. 

Taxod ium — D eciduous cypr e s s . 

Carpinus — American hornbeam. 

Tilia — American linden. 

Ilex — ^American holh^. 

These trees are not especially representative of North Caro- 
lina, but were brought from that State and planted together in 
memory of the donor, a distinguished citizen much interested in 
the success of the park. 

THE NEILSON MULBERRY. 

One windy afternoon in March, 1880, Adelaide Neilson went 
with friends to Tower Grove Park to see the Shakespeare bronze, 
descriptions of which had awakened her interest. To one of tlic 
friends she had written from a distant city : 

'•A little strolling player will soon visit dear St. Louis, alas' 



78 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

for the last time!! Thinking of it I weep tears of sorrow!" 

As she had resolved to retire from her profession and live at 
home, in England, she felt it her duty to see the Tower Grove 
statues. Neilson was in her happiest mood, and j^et she seemed 
to chat and laugh under a shadow. She had frequent warnings. 
The doctors had told her to quit work or expect a sudden sum- 
mons hence. She would quit work, she said, but the sudden 
summons would come. She was sure of that, and the certainty 
crave her life a keener zest. 

The drive in the park was exhilarating, and she was brilliant 
as nature's budding green. The Humboldt was soon passed ; for 
Shakespeare, in sight, attracted her with a magnet's charm. She 
stood before the figure for a time in reverence. She viewed it 
from all sides, in the changing lights and shadoAvs of a mottled 
skj^, and talked while she walked. The Shakespeare lived to her, 
and she was familiar, yet solemn in the presence. 

"Old fellow, you have done a great deal for me; a great 
deal for me," she repeated, slowly weighing her words and nod- 
ding her head. She finalty came to a stand and said : 

"Here, it has the greatest power of expression and pose." 
The point of view was quartering, to the north, about forty feet 
from the base. The inspection over, she was asked what she 
thought of it, and she replied : 

"I think that among all the Shakespeare memorials, j^ublic 
and private, this is the best I have seen." 

One of the friends suggested that she might furnish a 
memento of her visit to the statue b}^ sending a Shakespeare Mul- 
berry to be planted near. Her face lighted up as she replied : 

"I shall be too happjM It will be a pleasure, and I feel 
honored in the privilege." 

She then stepped off several paces from the base at the back 
of the statue, until the distance seemed right, and turning her 
dainty boot-heel in the sod, she said: 

"Soon as I return to England, I shall go to Stratford first, 
before London, and I promise to send a Shakespeare Mulberry 
slip, to be planted here." 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 71J 

And when the carriage moved awa3^ her face was turned to 
the Shakespeare, long as it was in sight. 

She never saw Stratford again, and only her dust ever reached 
England. 

The promised Mulberry •• slip " never came, but Mr. Henry 
Shaw furnished a Mulberry- tree from his gardens, and he and 
Mr. N. M. Ludlow, the oldest actor and dramatic manager living, 
Mr. Thomas Dimmock, one of the ••friends," and Thomas E. 
Garrett, planted the tree at the spot designated, in memorj^ of the 
great Juliet. Eosalind, Viola, and Imogene — Adelaide Neilson, 
whose art and person created and embodied the most perfect 
verisimilitudes of these lovel}' women of Shakespeare, probably, 
that the world ever saw. 

Mr. Shaw supplemented this act with a marble tablet bearing 
the inscription, '•Mulberr}^ tree planted on the spot marked hy 
Adelaide Neilson, March 25th, 1880." 

And the Neilson Mulberry in the place of the •• Shakespeare 
slip," buds, blossoms and bears, and will keep the •• little strol- 
ling player's " memorj' green in the years to come. 

IN MEMORIAM. 

The spirit of Xatiire robed in leafy green 
Fincl^^ here lier favorite pleasure-grouncl retreat; 

A\^iere toilsome Art has set the sylvan scene, 
And strewn rich tribntes at her mistress' feet. 

Humboldt and Shakespeare in one vista rise — 

Explorers of untrodden Avays — iintanght ! 
The one, by conquest, made the earth man's prize, 

The other crystallized the Avorld of thought. 

In Shakespeare's presence Xeilson bowed the knee — 

Here later pilgTims come to honor her; 
And here, the Poet's own memorial tree 

Recalls sweet Juliet's best interpreter. 

OI Mother Xature, these lived near to tlice— 
Thy chosen childi'en — born to tell thy Truth ; 

And here they keep thy loving company-, 
And share the bloom of thine eternal youth. 

Thomas E. Garhktt. 
THE FENCE AND HEDGE. 

The park is entirel}^ enclosed and separated from the strip 
surrounding it bj^ a fence and an evergreen hedge inside of same. 



80 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

The fence is formed of cedar posts and base boards, and pine 
palings pnt together with white lead, and is constructed in a 
substantial manner, and likely to last for many j^ears : it is nearly 
20,000 feet in length. The hedge is of American arbor yiti^ and 
Norway spruce, and was trenched for planting four feet wide and 
two feet deep ; is kept in good order bj^ replanting any bare spots 
that may appear, and careful trimming and protecting it from 
over-oTowth. Its dark-o;reen line relieves the bareness of a 
white wooden fence, and forms an ornamental feature in the park 
in many places, where the vista runs to the boundarj'. Each 
year improves it in color and density. 

The desirability or necessit}' of fencing a large public park 
involves a question on which there is some difference of opinion, 
but in the case of a highly finished pleasure ground like Tower 
Grove, improved according to the gardenesque or cultivated style, 
the necessity is different ; it must have an ornamental line of 
commencement on every side, and protection afforded to the 
lawns and trees, shrubs, etc. The improvement of this park 
has been characterized by the rapid growth of trees and the per- 
fection attained in the sward, and these results would have been 
difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish without the protection 
afforded by a fence. Nor would the park, to-da}', present the 
appearance it does of finish and completeness, without a definite 
line separating it from the countrj^ surrounding it. 

THE DRAINAGE OF THE PARK. 

The ground forming the park was naturally drained by three 
runs crossing it at nearh^ equal distances in a northwardly 
direction, uniting beyond the north boundary, forming a branch 
of Mill Creek, which passes eastward to the river. The drains of 
the park were connected with these runs, and by this means the 
surface water is disposed of. In constructing the system of 
drains, every effort was made to secure substantial and per- 
manent work, so that there would be no trouble in the future with 
this most important branch of improvement. In a report sub- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 81 

mitted to the Comptroller subsequent to the opening of the park, 

the following particulars were given : 

Main Drains, built of stone, 2>^ ft. wide by 4 ft. high, arched, length, 2,670 ft. 

2Kft. " 4 ft. " covered, " 2,540 ft. 

2 ft. " 2Kft. " " " 393 ft. 

Stone Pipe Drains, laid 8 to 15 inches, '* 10,551 ft. 

16,154 ft. 

The cost of the drains and work in connection therewith was about 

$65,000. The silt-pits for drives and walks were built five to 

eight feet in depth and three to four feet in diameter, circular and 

semi-circular, with iron frames and gratings, etc. ; they number 

now 193. Since the report alluded to, the drainage system has been 

considerabl}^ extended ; length of guttering twelve to eighteen 

inches wide, on walks and drives at present, is 105,310 feet, of 

culvert drain nearly 7,000 feet, and of pipe drain 21,020 feet. 

The park is admirably drained, partly owing to the natural 
advantages of the surface, but, mainly to the careful execution 
of a complete drainage sj^stem. In the oval surface of all walks 
and drives and the incline given to drains, the object held in 
view was, not only to avoid standing water in the most severe 
seasons, but to prevent soft and spongy places in the road-ways. 
Not unfrequently the importance of thorough drainage is over- 
looked in the improvement of public pleasure grounds, and as a 
consequence, continued wet weather or sudden thaws make some 
walks and drives almost impassable. Since the completion of the 
park, there have been several unusual rain-falls that taxed to the 
utmost the system of drainage, and had it been less complete, 
would have caused serious loss and inconvenience. 

The park drains also carry the surface water from Grand 
avenue at the east entrance ; had they not been constructed with 
capacity sufficient for this outside surface, the improvement of 
the park approaches or the road-ways on the west side of the 
avenue, now in progress, would have been impracticable. 

THE COURSE OF THE DRIVES OR CARRIAGE ROADS. 

In the work of improvement it was essential that the plan of 
the drives and style of ornamentation should be specially adapted 



82 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

to the shape of the land appropriated to the park. It was desirable^ 
of course, that the principal entrance should be on Grand avenue, 
and this fact, and the oblong form of the park, compelled the 
creation of a main central drive, but the author of the plan was 
well aware that too much formality might impair the general 
effect, and for this reason the drive was made to divide around 
" turn-outs," and at the central eminence, to separate into winding 
road-ways, enclosing a wide space of open lawn bordered by wood- 
land. Had this drive been continued straight on to the west gate, 
much of the variety and many of the most pleasing landscapes in 
the park would have been sacrificed. The subject was carefully 
studied before the plan was adopted, and the results now evident ; 
the frequent changes in woodland vistas and perspectives unfolding 
from different points of view, adding interest and novelty to a 
circuit of the drives, certainly indicate a fortunate selection. 
Within a space less than three hundred acres in extent, as much 
beauty and variety have been introduced as taste and experience 
could suggest, without outstepping the natural limits of the 
enterprise. The plan of the drives, it may be added, is adapted 
also to visitors of different ideas and inclinations ; those who like 
to see and be seen, and who admire a wide, straight boulevard can 
enjoy themselves in the middle drive, and those who prefer more 
retired curving, woodland ways, can find them on the north and 
south drives. A further feature of interest is the difference in the 
scenery between the eastern and western portions of the park, 
which is largely produced by the change in the course of the road- 
ways commencing near the north and south gates. 

THE PARK AKD ITS ROAD COXNECTIOXS. 

The situation of Tower Grove Park is favorable for the use 
and enjoyment of all classes of citizens. It lies nearly mid- 
way between the northern and southern limits of the city, and its 
eastern boundary is Grand avenue, which intersects all important 
streets running westward from the river, and affords connection 
with the most populous residence districts. It is at present 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 83^ 

accessible by three lines of street railway's, and when Grand 
avenue and the King's Highway are properly improved, the 
facilities for reaching it will be greatly extended, and it will then 
be surrounded b}^ completed road-ways. The north gate, near 
the middle of the park, opens on Tower Grove avenue, which con- 
nects directlj^ with the Manchester Road and the street system of 
the city, and the south gate, nearly opposite, opens on Arsenal 
street, and thus, in entering or leaving the park, visitors are not 
compelled to traverse its length. On the west the King's High- 
way running north and south affords access to all important road- 
ways, and to Forest Park, the Race Track, the Fair Grounds, 
and other points of interest, and visitors have a choice of a variety 
of routes in any direction. 

This convenience of access for visitors on foot or in vehicles was 
one of the reasons in favor of the establishment of the park, and 
with the growth of population and the extension of paved road- 
ways, the advantages of its situation will be generally appreciated. 
Large parks distant from the centre of population can never meet 
the wants of all classes ; access thereto is troublesome or expen- 
sive, and the majority of people become indifferent, or only visit 
such places on rare occasions. Tower Grove is as near the centre 
of the city as it was possible to establish a driving park ; it is 
much nearer the centre than any other city park of similar 
character, and this fact, together with its facilities of access and 
abundant road connections, must always make it a most popular 
public pleasure ground of great and increasing benefit to the 
people of St. Louis. 

The building of the Belt Railroad, as authorized by the 
Municipal Assembly last winter, will, it is expected, furnish 
steam railroad connection with the park near its western boundary, 
and if properlj^ carried out so as not to endanger the use of 
contiguous roads and avenues, may prove an additional con- 
venience. 

THE BIRDS OF TOWER GROVE. 

As parks are most visited when "the time of the singing 
birds is come," it is quite a misfortune, if from any cause, such 



84 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

places lose the natural inhabitants of the woods and groves. There 
are but few birds of solitary habits, but the musical kind are not 
overfond of the presence of man, and a small park surrounded 
by residences gradually ceases to be the resort of the most gifted 
variety. In Tower Grove Park, owing to its suburban situation, 
and the fact that it is still surrounded by what may be called 
"the country," there may be found a fair representation of the 
feathered tribes of the West. Every practical measure is adopted 
to protect them and to invite their presence. In the large summer- 
house near the south gate the roof is arranged for pigeons and 
smaller birds, and interference with nests or the killing of birds 
in the park or vicinity is strictly prohibited. Without attempting 
a scientifically correct enumeration of the birds to be seen in 
the park, it may be interesting to give some particulars of its 
feathered visitants derived from recorded observations by Mr. 
Shaw. 

The first aerial harbinger of spring is the Bluebird, which 
sometimes makes its appearance before the reign of winter is 
broken. We see it first on some bright morning when there are 
breathings of the vernal season jet to come, but the snow still 
lingers in the woods and valleys. Cold, rough weather and frosty 
nights often follow its arrival, and sometimes it is seen shivering 
on some bare bough shaken by a wintry wind, and looking so 
disconsolate as to make us half believe it had been deceived bj' 
our fluctuating climate and arrived before its time. It manages 
to subsist, however, although when long, cold spells occur in 
early spring it disappears, but whether it returns southward some 
distance in search of warmer airs, or hides itself in sheltered 
nooks, it is not quite certain. On warm, soft days, ere the woods 
or grasses have received their new tints, it flits merrily about and 
sometimes it flashes before us, a bright blue spot on the sward or 
among branches, like an animated blossom. It is not much of a 
songster, but it is the first flower of animated nature, and we all 
look for it and love it as the dew-drops and violets. 

Early in April come other feathered visitants from the warmer 
^outh-lands, where instinct tells them of changing seasons far 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 85 

away. From the swaying tree top, we hear the clear notes of the 
Cardinal Redbird — and the Robin, so celebrated in song and story, 
is seen in the open seeking its food in the softened earth. Our 
Western Robin is much larger than his English relative, but ho 
has the same characteristics, and is regarded with equal favor. 
The Swallow revisits us about the 20th April, coming from the 
swamps of Lower Louisiana, where the winter was spent, and its 
rapid curving flights through the sunny air is one of the many 
happy sights of spring. The songbirds come to us with the open- 
ing of May, and add a new charm to the whispering of the fresh 
foliage. The Thrush, the Catbird and the American Nightin- 
gale or Mocking-bird, each 

" Like an embodied joy 
Whose race is just begun," 

make the park musical, particularly in the early morning, with 
their sweet ringing notes. The Mocking-bird, the pride of our 
Western woods, the sweetest singer of them all, is not seen as 
frequently as in former years. He is evidently disposed to retire 
from the suburbs of a metropolis — the rush and stir of a vast 
population, and the rumble and scream of railway trains are not 
congenial. But he has not deserted Tower Grove entirely, and 
in the park and the Missouri Botanical Gardens his song is still 
heard, with all the sweetness of times of yore, when solitude 
and silence reigned over the territory now occupied by a mighty 
city. 

Among other birds that spend the summer at Tower Grove 
may be mentioned the following, giving only their ordinary names : 

The Swift, of the Swallow family, which appears between 
15th and 20th of April. 

The Purple Martin comes in May, but few in numbers and 
is seldom seen. 

Yellow Warblers, yellow birds of several species, and are the 
Vireos of Audubon. 

The Red-headed and Golden-winged Woodpeckers are plenti- 
ful, and are useful and ornamental. 



•86 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

The Baltimore and Orchard Orioles never fail to put in their 
-appearance, and their hanging nests can be found in the Botanical 
Gardens every season. 

The Field Sparrows are abundant, and the Song Sparrows, 
Trinquilla Melodia (Wilson), come even before spring is well 
established. 

The House Wren is well represented every season, and is a 
favorite. Also the Meadow Lark. 

The Turtle Dove appears when spring is yet young, and 
remains the most of the vear. Its soft cooino;s mav be heard 
nearly every summer day, and blend charmingly with the rhythm 
of sylvan sounds. 

The Blue Jay is, of course, abundant, and asserts its presence 
with the energy for which it is remarkable everywhere. 

The Euby-throated Humming-bird, always a curiosity of 
T3eauty, is seen every year, but it chiefly frequents the flowery 
scenes at the adjacent gardens. 

The Blackbird, the Red-winged and the Crow variety, put in 
-an early appearance as winter withdraws. 

The English Sparrows are becoming very numerous. This bird 
was introduced to our climate some years ago by some gentlemen 
^who regarded it with high favor. It has adapted itself to its new 
conditions with great facility, and has propagated its species 
with customary rapidity. It is believed by some that it drives 
.away the smaller native birds from their former resorts, and 
-certainly in the smaller parks the number of singing birds seems 
to be reduced since its advent. The Sparrows are not as numer- 
ous at Tower Grove as they are at points east of Grand avenue. 

Of course, there are many other birds we have not named; 
birds musical and unmusical, peaceful and predatory. We have 
only sought to indicate the more important representatives of the 
feathered tribes which make a summer headquarters at Tower 
Grove, omitting a complete list and a scientific nomenclature of 
species. The value of birds, not only in the beauty and interest 
the}" add to rural or park scenes, but on account of the number 
of insects they destroy', is very great, a fact not properly appre- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 87 

<jiated by most people. Some years ago Mr. S. A. Forbes, State 
Naturalist of Illinois, estimated the number of summer birds in 
Illinois at three to the acre, and that two-thirds of their food con- 
sists of insects and insect's eggs, giving a total of seven thousand 
two hundred insects per acre for each bird, or two hundred and 
fifty billions for the whole State. The average food of the Thrush 
family, including the Robin, Catbird and Mocking-bird, shot at 
Oalena, Bloomington and Normal, from spring to autumn, was 
spiders 1 per cent., Micropods 2 per cent., various other insects 
61 per cent., blackberries 10 per cent., cherries 8 per cent., grapes 
5 per cent., currants 1 per cent., grain 4 per cent., ants 8 per 
cent. 

Of the birds named above nearly all of them are destroyers 
of insects and insect's eggs, and the service they render to 
humanity in this way, preserving fruits, flowers and grain, is 
substantial enough to warrant the best efforts to prevent unneces- 
sary bird killing. 

PARK SCENES AT DIFFERENT SEASONS. 

A park appears at its best in early summer, when sward and 
foliage assume a delicate, luminous green, but it is not a place 
intended only for summer use. It is open "throughout the 
rolling year," and its scenes should be attractive in almost any 
kind of weather, for there are many who visit it during all sea- 
sons, in search of fresh air, exercise, or to watch the changing 
aspect of nature, each one of which has a beauty quite its own. 
To render visits agreeable under all circumstances is one of the 
studies in its creation, and this is accomplished, first, by making 
hard, well drained walks and road-ways ; second, by good order 
and neatness, the evidences of w^hich always gratify the eye ; and 
lastly, by a tasteful use of evergreen trees and shrubs, which 
furnish warm and living hues when the deciduous trees are bare 
of foliage. 

In autumn days the glory of variegated color in a tastefully 
planted park becomes so striking, that regret for the fading sum- 



88 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

mer dissolves in admiration of her final scene. In such land- 
scapes there is a greater variety in autumnal coloring, within a 
given space, than it is possible to find under purely natural con- 
ditions. Nature does not intermingle deciduous and evergreen 
trees in the harmonious combinations seen in such a place as 
Tower Grove Park, and this grouping of beauties usuallj^ widely 
scattered, illustrates the power of the landscape gardener to im- 
prove some of the aspects of her uncultivated scenes. He can 
intermingle maples, oaks, elms, sycamores, birches, poplars, 
tulip, lindens, etc., with pines, spruces, firs, cedars, larches and 
many other varieties of conifers and evergreens, introducing vari- 
ous shades of green amid the crimson, yellow, scarlet and brown 
of autumn leaves ripening to their fall, creating contrasts and 
effects as brilliant as various. The undulations of the park assist 
the display of autumnal glories by diffusing them over a billowy 
surface, upon which they combine and glow undershot with 
emerald. In Indian summer time when these ardors of color 
flame brightest on the face of decaying nature, no more animated 
and charming picture can be found than that which unfolds before 
a visitor upon entering the park from Grand avenue ; embracing 
not only a wide expanse of variegated woods, interspersed with 
lawns, summer-houses and works of art, but rural scenes fading 
westward in a golden haze. 

During winter the sylvan attractions are reduced greatly, but 
the improved and ornamental character of the grounds is care- 
fully preserved. The debris of the fall is quicklj^ removed from 
the sward, walks and drives, the evergreens remain to enliven 
and warm the scene ; the grass also, although russet-hued in spots 
from summer heat, retains generally its pleasant tint. Even when 
the mantle of the snow has fallen over all, the scene is not 
desolate, because it is relieved by the evidences of watchful care, 
of art, and of a benevolent and protecting purpose in the scene. 
The plant-house with its collection of tropical plants and shrubs 
may then be visited with much pleasure and profit. 

As parks may be said to occupy somewhat the same relation 
to a city that private grounds do to the home of their owners. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 89' 

slovenliness and neglect in the care of either indicate lack of 
prosperity or of energy and taste. In Tower Grove, as in all 
pleasure grounds, the changes of the seasons bring their appro- 
priate labors ; there is no period during the year when working 
operations can be said to be wholly suspended, although, of 
course, they are reduced to the minimum in mid-winter. 

The best uses and most beautiful aspects of public pleasure 
grounds are confined to spring and summer ; then nature makes 
her finest display and man has best opportunity of enjoying the 
pageant. As the . harshness of winter dissolves in the " etherial 
mildness" of the season of hope and flowers, the park landscapes 
brighten as if pervaded by a joyous spirit. As the desolation 
that usuall}'- accompanies winter, in scenes of wild nature, is 
almost wholly avoided in improved grounds, so also, when the 
reign of the cold is over, such places re-assert and establish their 
beauty most rapidly. As the influences of refined habits, operat- 
ing by insensible degrees, seem to make human faces fairer — to- 
give a more delicate carmine, a softer texture to the skin ; so, it 
may be said, nature's countenance becomes more sensitive, and 
blushes in livelier tints, when subjected to kindly culture hy 
human hands. Tower Grove Park illustrates this in its quick 
response to the first hints of vernal warmth ; it is alert, as it were^ 
to meet the season of growth and exhibit the reward of its patient 
care, and when — 

* * " Through the lucid chambers of the South 
Iiook'd out the joyous Spring, look'd out and smiled," 

the cultivated landscape is ready to welcome it. 

" In various hues, hut chiefly tliee gay Green, 
ThoiT smiling nature's univei'sal robe! 
United light and shade; where the sight dwells 
With growing strength and ever new delight." 

Soil culture obliterates the unsightly aspects of irregular- 
vegetation, and shows its best effects in park lawns, where the 
cutting of the grass at proper times, reseeding and top-dressing 
such places as have suffered from heat and drought, assist in 



"90 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

producing a fresh and uniform sward, which requires only a few 
moist, soft April days to regain its brightest tints. The trees 
and shrubs in a well-kept park are also of a vigorous type, weak 
or sickly ones not being allowed to cumber the ground, and 
23lanted in a fertile soil not too close together, they exist under 
favorable conditions, and their buds swell rapidly with the first 
breathings of spring ; if the season comes in with mild weather, a 
luxuriant foliage is developed before a steady change of tempera- 
ture is established. In that delightful period, when spring and 
summer meet and commingle their charms, when natural forms 
^nd colors have their highest grace, the skies brightest, and the 
^ir "a balmy freshness holds," a period usually occurring 
towards the end of May, Tower Grove fully "dressed in living 
green," appears to its best advantage. Of course, it is the time 
when all nature looks beautiful, whether cultivated or not, but it 
affords the special opportunity^ of the landscape gardener ; then 
the designs he so laboriously worked out appear in their finest 
setting, and glow in rarest hues. These are the halcyon days for 
park rambles, when the resident of the city can enjoy the 
spectacle of nature's resurrection under the most favorable cir- 
cumstances, and learn to truly appreciate the time, labor and 
money expended in creating the park that delights him. It is 
then, too, that the influence of the place co-operates most actively 
with that of poetry and religion, by impressing the lesson of the 
seasons upon minds most likely to forget it. Byron has said of 
the sun, the parent of the seasons: 

" Our inborn spirits liave a tint of thee, 
Even as our outward aspects." 

And preachers, as well as poets, have always been disposed to 
connect the changes of nature with human moods and feelings — 
to make one illustrate the other ; if the bleak winds and dying 
vegetation of the closing autumn are "the melancholy days, the 
saddest of the year," surely the keen, sweet jo3^ance of May is 
the time of gladness and hope, when the sombre spirit of the 
winter departs and sunny ideas come to us with the birds return- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 91 

ing from far off summer climes. Ideas that inspire not only hope,- 
but reverence and faith towards the Almighty power that so orders 
"the several forces of nature that winter deadness and gloom are 
followed by the exuberant life and brightness of spring, and 
suggest a like termination of human ills, when the winter of dis- 
content will yield to happier conditions and " one universal spring 
•encircles all." 



MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK. 

The maintenance fund of the park consists of an appropria- 
tion of ^25,000 per annum, made by the Municipal Assembly, in 
accordance with the terms of the original dedication and its 
acceptance by the city. 

There is no regular Superintendent, as the supervision exer- 
'Cised by Mr. Henry Shaw, who resides in the immediate vicinity 
rendered the appointment of such an officer unnecessary. The 
Board of Commissioners make an annual report of expenditures 
to the city government. 

The Gardener of the park in charge of the trees and orna- 
mental features, is Mr. James Gurney, an experienced Florist 
and arboriculturist who received his early training at Kew 
Gardens, London. 

The foreman in charge of the workmen and daily operations, 
and having under his care the machinery, horses and other pro- 
perty of the park, is Mr. Edward Mugford, a thoroughly compe- 
tent and experienced man, who has been connected with the park 
since its establishment. Mr. Mugford resides in the park in the 
stone house near the stables. 



POLICE REGULATIONS. 

The rules and regulations for the control and government of 
the park will be found in the special act of the Legislature estab- 
lishing the park, and in the ordinances adopted by the Board of 



92 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

Commissioners in accordance therewith, both of which are giveft_ 
in full in the appendix. The ample power lodged in the Board to 
legislate respecting the use of the park, has never been severely- 
exercised, only such regulations being adopted as seemed neces- 
sary for the maintenance of order and the protection of the public. 
The number of arrests in the park, have been extraordinarily few 
in view of the large numbers of visitors on Sundays and holidays ; 
the arrests made were chiefly for fast or reckless driving or other 
trivial violations of law. But little loss has been incurred since the 
opening of the park by the acts of mischievous or evil-disposed 
persons. During the labor troubles in 1877, a party of riotous 
men and boys visited the park and compelled the workmen to cease 
operations, but this was only temporary, and no other harm was 
done. The park, however, does not receive a proper share of 
attention from the police of the city, probably owing to its location 
west of Grand Avenue, and the inadequate strength of the force. 
The value of the park property and the works of art recently 
added thereto, and the increasing number of visitors each season 
certainly suggest that the city authorities should provide a regular 
patrol as soon as it may be possible to do so. 

THE ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The illustrations in this volume are the work of the St. Louis- 
Artotype Company, Mr. R. Benecke, Manager, and are artotypes 
or photographs printed in printer's ink, and consequently as per- 
manent as any ordinary printed matter. This new and interesting 
process introduced here by Mr. Benecke, obviates the only objec- 
tion to the photograph, viz: its liability to fade, and furnishes 
pictures that are practically indestructible. Its perfect fidelity 
and permanence were the reasons for its adoption in connection 
with the present work. 

The plan of the park at the commencement of the volume was 
prepared by Mr. James Gurney, and will be found useful for 
reference, and as affording a comprehensive view of the system 
of drives and walks and the ornamental features. The plan was- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 93 

lithographed by August Gast & Co., of St. Louis, Lithographers 
^nd Printers. 

GRAND AVENUE. 

Tower Grove Park is now an attractive and complete pleasure 
ground adorned by nature and art, and convenient of access for 
all classes ; it is an ornament of which any city in the world might 
feel proud, and a duty rests upon the government and people of St. 
Louis to see that it is preserved, protected, and that the more 
important streets and avenues connecting with it are properly 
improved. The most pressing need, at present, is the improve- 
ment of Grand avenue between Laclede and Chouteau avenues, 
and from Lafayette avenue to the east entrance of the park, which 
will enable the residents of Stoddard's Addition and the northern 
portion of the city to reach the park by a direct route over an 
improved roadway ; this involves, of course, the construction of a 
bridge over the steam railroad tracks in the Mill Creek valley, the 
necessity of which has long been recognized and becomes more 
pressingly urgent each year. In carrying out this improvement 
the bridge should be made as wide as possible, similar in character 
to that at Jefferson avenue, and the roadway of Grand avenue 
should be leaved in a durable manner specially adapted for driving 
purposes, and sidewalks laid at the same time, gas lamps put in 
^nd shade trees planted. Grand avenue would then form a most 
agreeable drive, commanding fine views, and the park and Botan- 
ical Gardens could be reached in all seasons without inconvenience. 
Sprinkling would remove the dust nuisance and in wet or thawing 
weather, the trouble incident to nearly a mile of earth road from 
Lafayette avenue to the park entrance would be at an end. It 
hardly requires argument to enforce the desirability of this 
improvement, it is evident that it will develop residence districts, 
xidd to the taxable values, and give the city the advantage of a 
public drive, running from the Fair Grounds to Tower Grove 
Park, and thence by several routes to Forest Park and other 
western suburbs. Already this is known as the " park drive," 
and is extensively patronized, the only drawbacks being the un- 



94 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

improved portions of Grand avenue and that part of the King's 
Highway from Tower Grove to Forest Park ; with the proper 
improvements of these roadways, the city would possess a really 
beautiful drive of diversified interest, fully exhibiting our more 
important pleasure grounds, and also the remarkable residence 
advantages of the western suburbs. 

In reference to shade trees, it may be stated that Mr. Shaw 
has expressed his willingness to furnish and plant trees on Grand 
avenue from Lafayette avenue to the park as soon as the street 
is graded, and no time should be lost in having this planting 
attended to under a supervision that will insure success, as it wilL 
add greatly to the ornamentation of the approach to the park. 
The construction of the inside roadways in front of the park on. 
Grand avenue was commenced last fall and the shade trees have 
been planted, but this work is executed and paid for by the park 
management. 

It is probable that within a comparatively brief period the 
number of residents in the vicinity of Tower Grove will greatly 
increase. The attractions of a large improved park within easy 
distance of the business centre, and always in order and properly 
protected, can hardly fail to draw towards it the homes of those who 
love freshness, fragrance and cleanliness ; and as such people love 
tasteful houses, and an attractive residence locality once established 
rapidly develops, it may not be very long before Tower Grove 
Park will be encircled by villas, and wealth and taste will com- 
bine to heighten the charms of its surroundings. To facilitate 
this result, as well as to assist the development and reputation of 
the city, the improvement of Grand avenue and the King's High- 
way, and the bridging of the railroad tracks as suggested above, 
should be considered by the city government as a most necessary 
and urgent measure which should be carried out without delay. 

THE HISTORY AXD USES OF PUBLIC PARKS. 

The advantages resulting from parks to a great city are not 
<}onfined to ornamental features and the pleasure afforded to 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 95 

the citizens. These are important, but the influences exerted b}' 
such resorts in advancing taste and refinement, cooperating insen- 
sibly with the spirit and principles of Christian civilization and in 
promoting public health, are even more valuable and remarkable. 
In the year 1869, when the attention of the people of Chicago was 
directed speciall}'- to the subject of parks, Dr. John H. Eauch, in 
accordance with the request of the Chicago Academ}^ of Science, 
prepared and published an exceedingly interesting pamphlet on 
public parks, and their effect upon the moral, physical and sani- 
tary condition of the inhabitants of large cities. In that work may 
be found a mass of scientific and general information showing 
"the benefits derived from the location of parks are not of a local 
but general character, and such as should enlist in their establish- 
ment the efforts of every citizen who has the welfare of the citj' 
at heart." The origin of parks (from the French word pare, 
or an inclosed space) is shown by Dr. Ranch to belong to remote 
antiquity ; indeed it seems probable, that, as soon as centres of 
population, viz., cities, grew into existence, the necessity of open 
places within their limits, for the refreshment of the atmosphere 
and as pleasure resorts for the people, asserted its importance 
and suggested efforts to meet it. Christian civilization, which 
jnay now be said to dominate the world, refers the primal scene 
of human history to a garden — a Paradise of delights, watered b}^ 
many a rill and rivers flowing in brightness, with trees of infi- 
nite variety, lawns and grottoes o'er arched with fragrant vines, 
and 

"Flowers of all lane, and -without thorn the rose." 

" Murmuring waters falling down the hill-slope, with banks 
myrtle-crowned, birds making musical the woods, and vernal air 
breathing the smell of field and grove." 

But this storj^ of a heavenly garden is not without its simili- 
tude in pagan conceptions ; the Elysium fields gleam through the 
golden haze of the old mj^thologies, and among the religious ideas 
of many nations scenes of perfected natural beauty are more or less 
connected with the origin or futurity of man. The "lotus-eater"" 



*96 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

dreams of a land where it seemed always afternoon — a land of 
streams and wavering lights and shadows : 

"The cliarraed sunset lingered low adown 
In the red West: thro' mountain clefts the dale 
Was seen far inland, and the yellow down 
Bordered with palm, and many a winding vale 
And meadow set with slender galingale." 

And modern as well as ancient poets draw their images of rest 
from sleep-soothing groves and quiet lawns where the weary may 
recline and dreamily behold the beauties 

"For ever flushing round a summer sky." 

Mahomet inspired his followers by bright pictures of a paradise 
where beauty, animate and inanimate, rewards the world-wearied 
soul. The basis of these strange and splendid traditions is the 
ineradicable love of man for nature and her landscapes. He finds 
himself inseparably bound to her ; her fertility is his existence — 
her freshness is his health — parks, gardens, represent his desire 
to preserve her beauties amid the exigencies of metropolitan life. 
In the work of Dr. Ranch many interesting facts are grouped 
to illustrate the early origin and history of gardens and park- 
making. The Jews and Egyptians had gardens, and a king of 
Babylon created the famous hanging-gardens to gratify a home- 
sick wife. Layard found traces of gardens amid the ruins of 
Mnevah, and in the most remote times the Chinese exhibited ar- 
tistic taste in this direction. The Hindoos and Persians devoted 
much care to the ornamentation of their public grounds and gar- 
dens, although the latter constructed such places generally with a 
view to luxurious repose. The descriptions of nature in Homer, 
Pindar, Sophocles and Euripides, and other Greek poets, illus- 
trate the love of the Greeks for natural beauties. With them, 
•'Imagination animated vegetable forms with life, and placed the 
vegetable world in a manifold and mystical relation to heroes and 
to the gods, who were supposed to avenge every injury inflicted 
on the trees and plants sacred to them."* Athens had its public 



* " Cosmos," Humholdt. 



Jii 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 97 

park, called Academia, laid out by Ciraon with walks through 
pleasant groves. At the entrance there was an altar to Love, and 
interspersed through the trees were statues to eminent citizens, 
and one portion was reserved for athletic games. The Roman 
poets abound with exquisite descriptions of Nature, and Rome in 
her glory was beautified by pleasure-grounds ''laid out in walks 
and drives for chariot and horseback exercise, with inclosures for 
wild beasts, apiaries, flower-gardens, and marble fountains." A 
charming garden surrounded the villa of the younger Pliny, and 
other distinguished Romans cultivated the beautiful in a similar 
manner. The Arabs introduced landscape gardening into Spain, 
and one of their rulers laid out an extensive botanical garden at 
Cordova. In Mexico, prior to the Spanish conquest, this art was 
at high perfection. Prescott says : ' ' There is no doubt from the 
accordant testimonies of Hernan Cortes in his reports to the Em- 
peror Charles Y. , of Bernal Diaz, Gomara Ovieda, and Hernan- 
dez, that at the time of the conquest of Montezuma's empire there 
were no menageries and botanic gardens in any part of Europe 
which could be compared with those of Huaztepec, Chepultepec, 
Iztapalapan, and Tezuco." 

In modern times, the necessity of parks in connection with 
cities is admitted on all sides. No large citj^ is complete or desir- 
able as a place of residence without them. AYithin the limits of 
this work it is impossible to review the development of the art of 
landscape gardening and of the establishment of parks in Europe. 
Every great city in Great Britain or on the continent has its pleas- 
ure grounds, on some of which immense amounts of money have 
been expended ; and even in country districts, particularly in 
England, the residences of the wealth}^ are surrounded by large 
improved grounds. The various parks in the city of London ag- 
gregate about 3,000 acres ; and the royal parks in the vicinity, 
including Windsor, Hampton Court and Burle}^, Richmond, Kew 
Gardens, Epping Forest, and others easil}^ accessible, 11,000 
acres. Manchester, Birmingham, and other large cities, have also 
laid out parks. The leading cities of Scotland and Ireland have 
also paid attention to this subject. Phoenix Park in Dublin con- 



98 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

tains nearly 1800 acres and has fine natural advantages, but is 
not kept in the best order. 

In Paris, the city of gardens and boulevards, there are nu- 
merous and magnificent pleasure-grounds ; and in Leipsic. Vien- 
na. Berlin, St. Petersburg and other European capitals, may be 
found squares, parks, and similar resorts, for the ornamentation 
of the city and the recreation of citizens. 

It is only within the last twenty years that the subject of 
parks has received proper attention in the United States. New 
York now possesses in Central Park one of the most elaborate and 
magnificent pleasure-grounds in the world, and Brooklyn, Boston, 
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, have all expended 
much effort and means in securing park advantages. 

At the time Dr. Ranch's pamphlet was published, the beauti- 
ful parks and boulevards which now adorn Chicago were not in ex- 
istence, and the subsequent movement in aid of park enterprises 
which resulted so successfully was doubtless materially aided by 
his judicious and comprehensive suggestions. Among various 
considerations submitted, the practical benefits of parks in a 
sanitary point of view were especially mentioned. These benefits 
arise from the inducements parks offer to out-door exercise, 
the improvement of the atmosphere, and the salubrious effects 
of trees in the vicinity of residences. By vegetation nature 
imparts to the air the free oxygen which is essential to animal 
life. Animals consume oxygen and give back to the air car- 
bonic acid, which is dangerous to life ; and yet this carbonic 
acid is the principal element in the food of or support of vege- 
tables, is consumed or decomposed by them, and oxygen 
returned for the use of animals. It is an ascertained fact, 
that air rendered pernicious by respiration, if confined in a 
bottle containing a living plant and exposed to the action of the 
sun, will be restored to purity. This mysterious chemical rela- 
tion of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, each yielding to the 
atmosphere what is essential to the continued existence of the 
other, suggests the dependence of man upon vegetation, not only 
for the principal part of his food, but for the purification and re- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 99 

newal of the atmosphere which he breathes. By vegetation the 
purity of water is preserved. " The parlor aquarium has taught 
even those to whom it is but an amusing toy, that the balance of 
animal and vegetable life must be preserved, and that excess of 
either is fatal to the other in the artificial tank as w^ell as in natu- 
ral water."* In reference to trees, it is clearly established that 
they arrest the diffusion of malaria and noxious emanations, part- 
ly by absorbing them, partly by creating a barrier interrupting 
air currents, and acting as fountains of refreshment by giving' out 
oxygen. The injurious effects of the effluvia of the Pontine 
marshes was not extensively felt until after the removal of a thick 
forest that existed on the south side of Rome. It is believed that 
even in ancient times the salubrious influence of woods and groves 
was well understood, and among the Romans trees were planted 
in rows and masses to prevent the diffusion of malaria. At Vel- 
letri and Campo Salino the destruction of belts of woods was fol- 
lowed by prevalence of fever, and the planting of pine and other 
trees between Rome and the Pontine marshes has been recently 
suggested by the highest authority as a measure to improve the 
healthfulness of the city. In this country numerous facts have 
been recorded showing the injurious effects following the removal 
of trees. Army physicians recommend having a wood, if possi- 
ble, between marshy grounds and an encampment. During our 
civil w^ar, it is stated that much of the sickness of the Army of 
the Potomac in 1861 and 1862 was the result of the destruction of 
trees for military purposes, and the same thing was observed in 
Louisiana and other places. 

In summer and winter trees modify temperature. In summer 
plants and trees, in addition to their conducting powers, render 
the air cooler by the large quantity of water that is exhaled from 
the leaves. It has been estimated that an acre of meadow trans- 
pires in twenty-four hours not less than 6,400 quarts of water. 
The perspiring surface of a large tree in full leaf must be very 
great. The large elm at Cambridge was estimated to produce sev- 
eral million leaves, and to expose a surface of nearly five acres of 
* "Man and Nature," Marsli. 



100 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

foliage. In winter, when the atmosphere is cooler than the earth, 
trees act as conductors of heat, and it is found that they possess 
a specific temperature of their own independent of their conduct- 
ing power, and a scientific authority observes, "that the wood of 
a living tree maintains a temperature of from 54° to 56° Fah. when 
the temperature stands from 37° to 47° Fah. above zero, and the 
internal warmth does not rise and fall in proportion to that of the 
atmosphere. So long as the latter is below 67° Fah. that of the 
tree is alwaj^s highest ; but if the temperature of the air rises to 
67° Fah., that of the vegetable growth is the lowest; and since, 
then, trees maintain at all seasons a constant mean temperature 
of 54° Fah., it is easy to see why the air in contact with the forest 
must be warmer in winter and cooler in summer than in situa- 
tions where it is deprived of that influence," (Meguscher.) 

From the facts given, and many more scientific data easily 
available by those interested in the subject, it is quite evident that 
the creation of large parks has a direct and most favorable influ- 
ence on sanitary conditions. Large spaces devoted to vegetation are 
created in the vicinity of dense populations, and science demon- 
strates and enforces the practical benefits thus secured. It may 
consequently be fairly concluded, that in St. Louis the numerous 
small parks we have scattered through the city, and the large 
driving parks situated west, north and south of the cit}^ proper, 
must exercise a valuable influence in promoting health, as well as 
materially aiding the comfort and enjoyment of our citizens in 
other localities. As to w^hat may be called the moral influence of 
parks upon all classes of society. Dr. Eauch presents many inter- 
esting suggestions, which, as the subject has already been alluded 
to elsewhere, it is unnecessary here to review. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 101 



THE PARK SYSTEM OF ST. LOUIS. 



In view of the large expenditures of the City of St. Louis in 
the establishment and maintenance of public parks since the year 
Tower Grove Park was commenced, it may be presumed that our 
citizens generally appreciate the importance of such pleasure 
grounds. Forest Park containing 1,371^\ acres, Carondelet 
Park 180 acres, and O'Fallon Park 158-5^2_ acres, have been esta- 
blished and improved since the date referred to ; Benton Park 
^^T%% acres, and the grounds surrounding Compton Hill Reser- 
voir and the Waterworks at Bissell's Point may be included, or in 
all about 1,800 acres ; — making the total park acreage of the city 
about 2,200 acres. Total cost of purchase, $1,405, 444y'Q^Q^ ; im- 
provements and maintenance, $2,281,546yy-g-. Total cost to the 
city, according to the annual report of the Park Commissioner for 
1883, $3,686, 980yy_. Of these parks, four — Forest, O'Fallon, 
Tower Grove, and Carondelet — are situated west of Grand ave- 
nue, and may be called driving parks in contradistinction to the 
smaller parks and squares, which are intended for pedestrians 
and surrounded by residences ; Forest Park lies directly west of 
the central and more populous part of the city, Tower Grove 
somewhat to the south of same, and O'Fallon and Carondelet in 
the north-west and south-west suburbs. By these locations large 
improved pleasure-grounds are rendered easy of acess from dif- 
ferent portions of the city, and the advantages of woodland and 
cultivated sward, which exercise an important influence in im- 
proving sanitary conditions, are secured in the vicinity of a 
dense population. The larger parks, under the control of the 
Municipal Park Department, have been greatly improved within 
the last five or six years notwithstanding the small amount of 
funds placed at the disposal of the department. The ground 
forming these parks is undulating ; each year adds something to 
their attractiveness and shows more clearly the wisdom of their 
establishment. 



102 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 



The following table prepared by the Park Commissioner, Mr. 
Eugene F. Weigel, presents a compact view of the park system 
of St. Louis : 

TOTAL COST OF ALL THE PAEKS IN^ ST. LOUIS. 

PARKS IN CHARGE OF PARK COMMISSIOXER. 





Area in 


Name. 


Acres. 


Benton Park 


14.30 


Carondelet Park, o. 1. 


3.17 


Carondelet Park, n. 1. 


180.00 


Carr Square 


2.36 


Exchange Square.... 


12.86 


Forest Park 


1.37L94 


Gamble Place 


L15 


Gravois Park 


S.26 


Hvde Park 


1LS4 


Jackson Place 


L62 


Laclede Park 


3.17 


Lvon Park 


10.92 


Missouri Park 


3.92 


O'Fallon Park 


15S.32 


St. Louis Place 


10. SO 


South St. Louis Squ'e 


L66 


Washington Square.. 


6.00 



How and ichen acquired. 



Improve- 
Cosf of mentg and 
Purchase. Mainten- Total Cost 
arce. 



From citycomm'ns, 1866 
From citvcomm'ns, 1812 

By purchase, 1S75 140,-570 lOj 

By donation, 1842 

Bv donation, 1S16 ! 

By purchase, 1S74 | 849,058 61 

Donated by city. 1S74. . . . 
From city comm'ns, 1S12 

By purchase, 1854. 

By donation, 1829 

From city commn's, 1812 

U.S. donation, 1873 

By purchase & don., 1854 

By purchase, 1S75 

By donation, 1850 

Donated by cit\-, 1882 .... 
By purchase, 1S50 



36,250 00 



Tota: 1.802.29 



95,500 00 
259,065 35 



2.5,000 00 



•57,728 36 
3,01186 

110,727 83 
39.489 421 
16,595 00 

621.917 67 1 
7,533 04 
21.322 28 
77.847 28 
22.117 63 
13,646 32 
18,074 94 
46,196 65 

117,285 78 

79,483 a5 

949 06 

&5,865 76 



57,728 36 
.3,011 86 

251.297 93 
39.489 42 
16.595 00 

,470.976 28 

7.533 04 

21,322 28 

114,097 28 
22.117 63 
13.646 32 
18.074 94 

141.6% 65 

376. .3.51 13 

79.483 35 

949 06 

90,865 76 



1,405,444 06 1,319,792 •2312,7-25,236 29 



PARKS IX CHARGE OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS. 



Lafayette Park 

Tower Grove Park. 



Grand Totals 



29.94 1 From city comm'ns, 1844 346,364 02 346.36402 

266.76 F'm cond'ldonat'n, 1S68 1 ! 615,390 061 615 390 06 



2,098.99 



l,4a5,444 06 2,281,546 31 3,686,990 37 



The only conditions annexed to the donation of the ground 
embraced in Tower Grove Park is, as elsewhere stated, that it 
shall be used for park purposes forever, and an annual appropri- 
ation made for its maintenance. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

It may be stated that this volume would have appeared dur- 
inj; the summer of 1883 but for unavoidable delavs in connection 
with the illusti'ations and other matters. 

The limited number of the edition and the necessity of ac- 
knowledging the courtesies of home and foreign Park Boards, and 
similar bodies, will render it impossible for the Commissioners to 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 103 

distribute copies gratuitously among our citizens, as they would 
otherwise greatly desire to do. 

During the past summer the Board sustained a serious loss 
by the death of Judge William F. Ferguson, one of its members, 
who was always deeply interested in the success of the park. As 
noted in the historical review, the Hon. James S. Thomas, ex- 
Mayor, also a member of the Board, died in 1874 — as a testi- 
monial of respect to these distinguished citizens brief biographi- 
cal notices are appended. 

In concluding this little volume the author desires to state, 
that, in attempting to carry out the two-fold purpose indicated in 
the preface, he is well aware that the task, light and pleasant in it- 
self, may not have been executed in a manner to satisfy the criti • 
cal and scientific reader. It was not written, however, with that 
ambitious object. If it presents all necessary information respect- 
ing the history, management, and diversified beauties of Tower 
Grove Park in a form somewhat accordant with the subject; if it 
serves in any way to strengthen public interest in this lovely pleas- 
ure ground so that its care and protection will be assured 
when the supervision of its benevolent founder is withdrawn, 
the result he most desires will have been accomplished. Not 
unfrequently when propositions have been submitted to the muni- 
cipal government vitally affecting our parks and the connecting 
roadways, it has seemed surprising that so little interest was ex- 
hibited by our citizens. Parks are as essential to a metropolis as 
institutions of industry ; but the latter, inspired by private in- 
terests, are necessarily perhaps more assertive in their demands. 
It is for this reason that the sympathy and support of the re- 
flective and philanthropic should always be extended in aid of 
those improvements, which, resting only on the basis of the pub- 
lic welfare, have no selfish inspiration to vaunt their usefulness. 
In the union of Commerce and Culture lies the secret of metropoli- 
tan greatness, and from the provinces of art and learning, as 
from the quiet beauty of parks — which is but art using the eter- 
nal elements of Nature for human benefit — there arise the sweet 
influences which alone make that union possible. 



104 TOWER GROVE PARK. 



In CQemoi^iam. 



Hox. James S. Thomas. — The Board of Commissioners of 
Tower Grove Park was organized in 1867, and of that Board 
James S. Thomas, then Mayor of the City, was a member, and 
remained connected with it to the time of his death, which occur- 
red in the 3^ear 1874. To him, as the chief officer of the City 
government, Mr. Shaw first submitted his proposition to donate 
to the public the land now embraced in the park. Mayor Thomas 
cordially approved the plan, and to his active interest and co- 
operation must largely be attributed the legislative and other 
measures which formed the foundation of the enterprise. His 
interest in the park and its improvement was maintained to the 
day of his death, and his name should always be remembered in 
connection with its histor}^. 

James S. Thomas was born in Talbot county, Maryland, May 
26, 1802. He came to St. Louis in 1824, five j^ears subsequent to 
the arrival of Mr. Henry Shaw, and quickh^ made himself felt in 
the community as an energetic and progressive citizen. He en- 
gaged in the banking business with Mr. Benoist, and acquired a 
considerable fortune and an honorable prominence for rectitude 
of life and purity of character. He retired from business about 
the year 1854. At the outbreak of the civil war he gave his ad- 
hesion to the cause of the Union with the outspoken directness 
which characterized all his actions, and contributed his means 
and best energies in aid of the government. He was at the head 
of the Veteran Reception Committee during the war, and although 
in this epoch of embittered feeling and social excitement he ne- 
cessarily made some enemies, the sincerity of his convictions and 
his personal probity were unquestioned. He was elected Mayor 
of St. Louis to fill the unexpired term of Chauncey I. Filley in 
1863, and was again elected in 1864 and also in the year 1866, 
thus filling the highest municipal office for more than two full offi- 
cial terms. He died September 27th, 1874. aged 72 years and 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 105 

some months. He was a man of a energetic, decided character, 
who gathered around him many friends, and gained b}' his own 
efforts a prominent position in our local history. 

Judge William F. Fergusox. — This well-known and respect- 
ed citizen was also a member of Tower Grove Park Board from 
its first organization to the time of his death last summer. He 
was born June 25th, 1810, in the city of Norfolk, State of Virgi- 
nia, 'being the only child of Peter Ferguson, and nearly his entire 
life was spent in this city. The family m^ved from Virginia to 
St. Louis in 1817, coming all the way bj^ land, and Peter Fergu- 
son became quite a prominent citizen and lawyer and in September, 
1849, was elected Judge of the Probate Court, which office he held 
continuously for nine years. William F. Ferguson received his 
education at the St. Louis L^niversity, and was Clerk of the Pro- 
bate Court during the time his father was Judge. In 1858 he was 
elected Judge of said Probate Court, as successor to his father, 
for the term of six years ; and at the November election, 1864, 
he was re-elected Judge of said Court. He ran as an independent 
candidate against John Grether. He served until Ma}^, 1865, when 
Gov. Thomas C. Fletcher appointed Nathaniel McDonald Judge 
of said Court in pursuance of ordinance of the State Convention 
passed April 8, 1865. This ordinance vacated said office on May 1, 
1865. The Governor first tendered the office to John Grether, who 
declined it on the ground that Judge W. F. Ferguson was fairly 
elected in November, 1864, and was entitled to the office. W. F. 
Ferguson was President of the Bellefontaine Cemeter}^ for several 
years, succeeding Wm. M. McPherson. He married Virginia C. 
Noe, of Norfolk, Va., a daughter of Croel and Mary E. Noe, on 
the 8th of October, 1863, in St. Louis, at the residence of her 
brother-in-law, John H. Garnhart. He was an active member of 
St. John's Episcopal Church for man}^ years, and was a man of 
a noble and charitable nature, with a pleasing, gentle courtes}'' of 
manner, of liberal opinions, and decided convictions. His wife 
died September 6th, 1883, and two days afterwards, Sept. 8th, 
he breathed his last, leaving a wide circle of friends and a pure 
and honorable memor}-. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 107 



APPENDIX 



SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE CREATING TOWER GROVE PARK. 



An Act to create, establish and provide for the government of the Tower 
Grove Park of the City of St. Louis. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows .■ 

Section 1. As much and such portions of the following described tracts 
and parcels of land, partly within and mostly without the present corporate 
limits of the city of St. Louis, to-wit, bounded by Grand avenue on the east, 
Arsenal street, or road, on the south, Magnolia avenue, as now existing, on 
the north, and the King's highway, so-called, on the west, in the city and 
county of St. Louis, as Henry Shaw may see fit to give, grant and convey to 
the City of St. Louis for the purpose of a public park, shall be known and 
designated as the Tower Grove Park of St. Louis. 

Sec. 2. The said park shall be under the exclusive control and manage- 
ment of a board of commissioners, to consist of not less than tive nor more 
than seven persons, who shall be named and styled the Commissioners of 
Tower Grove Park, and who shall be appointed as hereinafter provided; but 
of which commissioners Henry Shaw — the donor to the City of St. Louis of the 
land for the said park hereby established— during his natural life, and, after 
his death, his successor in the direction of the Missoari Botanical Garden as 
he may create the same in any devise or conveyance which he may be 
authorized by law to make, shall be and constitute one member. 

Sec 3. The following named person, Henry Shaw, and such persons as 
he may select, shall constitute the B )ard of Commissioners of said park. They 
shall hold their offices as such commissioners for five years from the time of 
the passage of this act and until their successors are appointed and qualified. 
No member of said board shall receive any compensation for his services, but 
each commissioner shall, nevertheless, be entitled to receive for his personal 
expenses, in visiting and superintending the said park, a sum not exceeding 
one hundred dollars per annum . 

Sec. 4. A majority of the said commissioners in office for the time being 
shall constitute a quorum of the board for the transaction of business ; but no 
action of the board shall be deemed final or binding unless it shall have 
received the approval of a majority of the board, whose names shall be 
recorded in the minutes. 

Sec. 5, The said board shall have the full and exclusive power to govern, 
manage, direct and control the said park ; to lay out and regulate the same ; 
to pass ordinances for the regulation and government thereof, not inconsist- 
ent with ordinances and regulations of the corporation of St. Louis ; to appoint 
such engineers, surveyors, clerks and other officers as may be necessary; to 
prescribe and define their respective duties and authority, fix the amount of 
their compensation, and generally, in regard to said park, they shall possess 



108 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

all the power and authority which now is, or which may hereafter be, by law 
conferred upon or possessed by the corporation of St. Louis in respect to the 
public squares and places in said city. 

Sec. 6. All ordinances, rules and regulations which may be passed and 
adopted by the Board of Commissioners for the regulation, use and govern- 
ment of said park, shall, immediately upon their passage, be published for 
ten days in three daily newspapers published in said city, to be selected by 
said commissioners, one whereof shall be a newspaper published in the 
German language. 

Sec. 7. All persons offending against sucli ordinances shall be deemed 
guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished on conviction before the Police 
Justice of said city, or any Justice of the Peace in the county of St. Louis, by 
a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and, in default of payment, by imprisonment 
not exceeding thirty days. 

Sec. 8. It shall be a misdemeanor for any commissioner to be directly or 
indirectly in any way pecuniarily interested in any contract or work of any 
kind whatever connected with said park, and it shall be the duty of any com- 
missioner, or other person who may have any knowledge of information of 
the violation of this provision, forthwith to report the same to any judge of 
the circuit court of St. Louis county. Such judge shall hear in a summary 
manner such charge and any evidence that may be offered in support thereof, 
and if, after such hearing, he shall be satisfied of the truth thereof, he shall 
immediately, by his order in writing in such matter, remove the commissioner 
thus offending. Every commissioner shall, before entcing upon the duties 
of his office, take and subscribe the same oath prescribed by the Constitution 
of the State to civil officers, and which oath, when subscribed, shall be filed 
in the office of the clerk of the county court of the county. 

Sec. 9. The City of St. Louis is hereby authorized and required immedi- 
ately after the passage of this act to cause to be issued its bonds, in the sum 
of one thousand dollars each, payable at such time or times, not less than five 
nor more than thirty years from the date thereof, as the Mayor and Fund 
Commissioner of said city shall deem best, to an amount sufficient to realize, 
on a sale on the best possible terms, the sum of three hundred and sixty 
thousand dollars, which bonds shall bear interest at the rate of six per cent, 
per annum, payable semi-annually, and shall have attached to them semi- 
annual coupons for the payment of said interest. Said bonds shall be entitled 
and designated on their face, "Park Bonds of the City of St. Louis"; shall 
be payable where the Mayor and Fund Commissioner shall designate on their 
face ; shall be signed by the Mayor and countersigned by the Comptroller of 
the city ; shall have the seal of said city affixed thereon, and be binding 
and obligatory on said city as any indebtedness thereof generally. 

Sec. 10. Said bonds shall be sold by the said Mayor, or by some person 
duly authorized by him to sell the same, and the proceeds thereof shall at 
once be paid over into the hands of the aforesaid commissioners of the Tower 
Grove Park. 

Sec 11. The money raised upon the fund and stock hereby authorized, 
as well as other moneys by them received, and as soon as received shall by 
the said commissioners be deposited to their credit in any bank or banks of 
St. Louis to be designated by the board. Such bank or banks s'lall allow in- 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 109 

terest upon said deposits as may bo agreed upon with said board, and shall 
open and keep an account with said board, and no moneys shall be drawn 
therefrom except upon a warrant signed by at least a majority of the com- 
missioners in office, and all receipts and vouchers shall be filed in the office 
of said board. 

Sec. 12. The said commissioners shall apply and use said moneys so 
coming into their hands, in the fencing, improving, ornamenting and beauti- 
fying of said park, in such manner as in their judgment will best serve to 
make said park a place of recreation in the resort of the people theret^' ; but 
the amount expended in any one year as aforesaid in said park shall not 
exceed one-third of the said amount so authorized to be paid over to them 
from the proceeds of the sale of the aforesaid bonds. 

Sec. 18. The City of St. Louis and the County of St. Louis, after the ex- 
piration of three years from the passage of this act, shall order and cause to 
be raised by taxes on the estates, real and personal, subject to taxation 
according to existing laws within said city and county, and to be collected in 
addition to the ordinary taxes yearly and every year following, a sum of 
money sufficient and equal to the sum of twentj^-five thousand dollars in 
specie funds, to be a perpetual fund for the keeping up, maintaining and im- 
proving the said public park, one-third of which annual sum shall be levied 
out of the taxable estates as aforesaid, within the county of St. Louis, outside 
of the limits of the city of St. Louis, and the remaining two-thirds of which 
annual sum shall, in like manner, be levied within the limits C)f said city. 

Sec. 14. It is hereby made the duty of the county court of St. Louis 
county to cause Tower Grove avenue to be widened in its present extent to 
the width of sixty feet, and to be opened the same width on the same course 
till an intersecting with the Market street road : also to cause Magnolia 
avenue to be opened from Grand avenue, and also to cause the same to be 
widened to a width of seventy feet, the additional width of twenty feet to be 
taken from the south side of said avenue. 

Sec 15. The proceedings for opening and widening said avenues and 
roads shall be had and pursued in the same manner as is or may be provided 
by law for the opening, widening or establishing of roads, public or private, 
in said county. 

Sec 16. As soon as the roads mentioned in the last preceding section 
shall be widened, opened and established as herein provided, or as soon there- 
after as practicable, the said county court shall cause Shaw avenue, Tower 
Grove avenue, and Floral avenue as now known and as the same shall be 
established, to be macadamized and improved in the same manner as other 
public roads in said county are macadamized and improved. 

Sec 17. None of said commissioners nor any person, whether in the em- 
ploy of said commissioners or otherwise, shall have the power to create any 
debt, obligation, claim or liability for or on account of said board, or the 
moneys or property under its control, except with the express authority of 
said board, conferred at a meeting thereof duly convened and held. 

Sec 18. The said boar! is hereby authorized to take and hold any gifts, 
devises, or bequests, that may be made to said board upon such trusts and 
conditions as may be prescribed by the donors or grantors thereof, and agreed 
to by said board for the purpose of embellishing or ornamenting said park, 



110 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

ainl shall annually make in its report a statement in detail of the condition 
and value of all such gifts, devises or bequests, and of the names of the per- 
sons by whom the same are so given, devised or bequeathed. 

Sec. 19. Gunning, or the discharge of fire-arms in St. Louis city or town- 
ship, within the limits of one mile of said park, in any direction, is hereby 
prohibited, and any person who shall violate this provision of law shall be 
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction before the Police 
Magistrate of the City of St. Louis, or any .Justice of the Peace of St. Louis 
county, shall be subject to a fine of twenty dollars, and in default of payment 
of such fine to imprisonment in the county jail of the county not less than 
ten nor more than twenty days. 

Sec. 2<). All persons are in like manner, within the limits in the preced- 
ing section stated, prohibited from turning horses, cows, sheep, swine or 
other cattle on the public highways or other roads or uninclosed lands, or from 
willfully permitting the same to go at large thereon for the purpose of grazing 
or any other purpose, under the penaUy prescribed in said section, and to be 
enforced in like manner as therein prescribed. 

Sec. 21. The oflQce of either of said commissioners who shall not attend 
the meetings of the board for three successive months, after having been 
duly notified of said meetings, without reasons satisfactory to said board, or 
without leave of absence from said board, may by said board be declared 
vacant. 

Sec. 22. In case of any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Board 
of Commissioners from death, resignation or disqualification to act, the same 
shall be filled by the remaining members of the board for the residue of the 
term then vacant, and all vacancies caused by the expiration of the term of 
office shall be filled by the appointment of the judges of the Supreme Court 
of the State for the time being, or a majority of them. 

Sec. 23. The said board shall annually, and in the month of January in 
each year, make to the City Council of said city a full report of their pro- 
ceedings and a detailed statement of all their receipts and expenditures. 

Sec 24. As soon as the said Henry Shaw shall grant and convey to the 
City of St. Louis any land contained within the boundaries named in the first 
section of this act, the said land and every part thereof so conveyed shall be 
held in fee by the said City of St. Louis, and, in consideration of such grant 
and conveyance by him, shall be exempt from the payment of all State, 
county, municipal or other taxation imposed or to be imposed under or by 
virttie of any law of this State whatsoever. 

Sec. 25. This act shall take efiect from and after its passage. 

Sec. 26. The City of St. Louis is authorized, in addition to the bonds au- 
thorized to be issued under the ninth section of this act, to issue other bonds, 
of the same character and in the same manner as in said section provided, to 
the amount of not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, for the purchase of land 
adjoining to the land mentioned in the first section of this act, for the purpose 
of a public park and to form part of the said Tower Grove Park, and which 
land, if and when acquired by purchase, shall be held, governed and regu- 
lated as is in all respects provided by this act with reference to the aforesaid 
public park. 

Approved March 9th, 1867. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. Ill 

DEED OF CONVEYANCE— HENRY SHAW TO THE CITY 

OF ST. LOUIS. 



Whereas the General Assembly of the State of Missouri did pass an act, 
which was approved on the 9th day of March, 1867, entitled "An Act to create, 
establish and provide for the government of the Tower Grove Park of the City 
of St. Louis," the object of which was to enable the City of St. Louis to receive 
from Henry Shaw a donation of land, for the purpose of a public park, upon 
the conditions that the said Shaw might attach thereto, to provide means for 
laying out and embellishing the same, improving the roads adjacent thereto 
and leading to it, and provide for the government, care and keeping up of 
said park in the future; and whereas the said Shaw is entirely willing so to 
donate said land upon the condition that such sums of money shall be ex- 
pended by the city in the laying out, embellishing and beautifying said land 
so given as shall be necessary in order to carry out the objects contemplated, 
and also the proper keeping up of said park after it shall have been laid out, 
and that a strip of land included in the land so given, two hundred feet wide 
on the external boundaries thereof, with openings or passage-ways through the 
same to the park as laid down on the plat accompanying this deed and form- 
ing part thereof, shall, for all time to come, be kept leased upon long leases 
for villa residences, to make not only a source of ornament to said park, but 
a source of revenue; — 

JVow, therefore, this deed, made this twentieth day of October, eighteen 
hundred and sixty-eight, by and between Henry Shaw, of the city of St. Louis, 
part}^ of the first part, and the City of St. Louis, party of the second part, 

\Witiiessetli : That the sadd party of the first part, in consideration of 
the covenants and agreements herein entered into on the part of said party of 
the second part, and upon the conditions herein mentioned, does hereby 
grant, alien and convey unto the said part)^ of the second part a certain tract or 
parcel of land situated partly in and partly beyond the present limits of the 
City of St. Louis and containing 276^'^*'^ acres more or less, being all that 
tract or parcel of land lying between Grand avenue on the east, Arsenal road 
on the south. King's road or highway on the west, and Magnolia avenue on 
the north as at present extended from Grand avenue to Tower Grove avenue, 
and thence from Tower Grove avenue westwardly in the line of said Magnolia 
avenue extended to a point intersecting the east line of land belonging to the 
late Thomas Jefferson Payne, thence south along the east side of said land to 
the south-east corner of said Payne's land, and from the last named point 
westwardly along a line separating said Payne's land from the land of the 
grantor to the King's road aforesaid. 

To Have and to Hold the same unto the said City of St. Louis in abso- 
lute property in fee so long as the said city shall perform and comply with 
the following conditions annexed to said grant, to-wit: 

First — That all of the said tract of land hereby conveyed, except the afore- 
said strip, two hundred feet in width, shall be and remain and be used and 
managed as a public park for the health, well-being and enjoyment of the 
citizens of said city and the county of St. Louis forever. That no portion of 
said park ^hall ever be used for any other purposes than those appertaining 



112 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

properly to sucli public park, nor shall any revenue ever be raised from the 
use of any portion of the said park except such as may be consistent with its 
said purpose and use, and which revenue shall go to the maintenance of said 
park through the Board of Commissioners. 

Second — That the City of St. Louis shall within .... months from the date 
hereof pay over the proceeds of the bonds of the City of St. Louis authorized 
to be issued by the ninth section of said act, and already sold, to the Board of 
" The Commissioner^ of the Tower Grove Park," as mentioned and author- 
ized to be formed by the second and third sections of said act, which said 
board, as authorized by said act, shall be composed of the said Shaw and of the 
following persons by him now selected and named therefor, to-wit : Adolphus 
Meier, Wm. F, Ferguson, Charles P. Chouteau, and James S. Thomas. 

Third — That after the money so raised by the sale of said bonds shall have 
been expended in the layingout and embellishing and constructing said park, 
there shall be expended each year the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars in 
specie funds iii the keeping up, maintaining and improving the said park. 

Fourth — That the provisions of said act as to constniction, appointment, 
and the filling of vacancies in the board of commissioners of said park, shall 
forever remain inviolate. 

Fifth — That the board of commissioners of Tower Grove Park shall from 
time to time cause to be leased the said strip of land of 200 feet in width sur- 
rounding said park, in convenient lots not to exceed 200 feet in front, nor less 
than ICO feet in front, to any one person for periods of thirty years before renew- 
al, for the purpose of erecting villa residences thereon only ; and all the gross 
rents received from said leases, without deduction, shall be forever paid over 
to said Henry Shaw and to his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, 
so that he and they shall forever enjoy said rents ; and said city shall execute 
the proper leases therefor, which .-hall contain a clause that there shall be 
only one residence on each tract so leased. 

A7id whereas by said act of the General Assembly the City of St. Louis is 
authorized to purchase land adjoining the property hereby conveyed to form 
part of Tower Grove Park, it is hereby understood and expressly agreed that 
if said city shall hereafter purchase for the aforesaid purpose the parcel of 
land owned by the heirs of the late Thomas Jefferson Payne, bounded west 
by the King's highway and north by Magnolia avenue as intended to be 
extended in a right line to the King's high way, the said strip of land of two 
hundred feet in width hereinbefore mentioned, so far as the same may adjoin 
said land of said Payne, shall be used for said park, and a like strip of land to 
be taken from said land purchased as aforesaid from said Payne shall be sub- 
stituted therefor for said leasing purposes, so that the said strip of two hun- 
dred feet in wadth, to be leased as aforesaid, shall surround said Tower Grove 
Park so extended in the north-western corner thereof. 

It in hereby expressly provided, and this conveyance is made upon the ex- 
press condition, that, if said conditions upon which said conveyance is made, 
or any of them, shall be violated in the lifetime of said Henry Shaw, the said 
property and all improvements thereon shall at once revert to said Shaw and 
absolutely vest in him in fee, as if the conveyance had not been made ; and if 
said conditions, or any of them, shall be violated after the death of said Shaw, 
then the said estate hereby conveyed and all improvements thereon shall go 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 113 

to and be vested in whomsoever said Shaw may appoint, for the use of the 
Missouri Botanical Garden, or directly in said garden whenever the same is 
incorporated or authorized by law to hold directly in its own name and for 
its own use. 

The said party of the second part hereby covenants to and with the said 
party of the first part that thej- will perform and fulfill the conditions and 
agreements hereinbefore mentioned. 

In Testimony whereof, tlie said party of the first part has hereunto set his 
hand and seal, and said party of the second part has caused the same to be 
signed by its Mayor and countersigned by its Register, and its corporate seal 
to be hereto attached, the day and year first aforesaid. 

(Signed,) HENRY SHAW, [seal.] 

Attest, (Signed,) JAMES S. THOMAS, Mayor. 

J. W. Heath, City Register. 

[r/je Common Seal of the City of St. Louis.'] 

Twenty-five dollars United States internal revenue stamps. Cancelled, 
October 20th, 1868, by B. Able, Collector. 

Stamp duty paid. (Signed,) Barton Able, Collector Internal Revenue. 



is, J 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of St. Louis 

Be it Remembered, that on this twentieth day 
of October, A.D. 1868, before me Henry J. Stierlin, the undersigned, a notary 
public within and for the county and State aforesaid duly commissioned and 
qualified, came Henry Shaw, of the city of St. Louis, party of the first part, 
and James S. Thomas, Mayor of the City of St. Louis, party of the second 
part, who are personally known to me to be the same persons whose names 
are subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing as parties thereto, and 
they acknowledged the same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein 
mentioned. 

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial 
seal of office in the city of St. Louis, the day and year above written. 

(Signed,) HENRY J. STIERLIN, 

Notary Public St. Louis County, Missouri. 

ilfotarial Seal of Henry J. Stierliri.] 

State of Missouri, 

' 55. 



,} 



County of St. Louis 

I, the undersigned Recorder for said county, 
certify that the foregoing deed and the annexed map thereto was filed for 
record in my office December 2d, 18G8, and is truly recorded in Book 370, page 
421. Witness my hand and official seal, date aforesaid. 

(Signed,) JULIUS CONRAD, Recorder. 

[■Seat «/the Recorder of St. Louis Coutity.] 



114 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

State of Missouri, > 

County of St. Louis, ) 

I herebj'^ certify the foregoing to be a verbatim 
copy of the original deed deposited with the City of St. Louis and recorded in 
Book 370, page 421, in the Recorder's office of tiie County of St. Louis, State 
of Missouri. 

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my nota- 
rial seal of office in the city of St. Louis this 25th day of February, A.D. 1869. 

HENRY J. STIERLIN, 

Notary Public St. Louis Co., Mo. 

^Notarictl Sealof Henry J. Stierlin.'] 



SUPPLEMENTAL DEED. 



Whereas Henry Shaw, of the city of St. Louis, did convey by deed dated 
20th October, ] 868, and recorded in the Recorder's office of St. Louis County, 
in Book 370, page 421, to the City of St. Louis a certain tract of land containing 
two hundred and seventy-six and y^^^ acres, of which tract two hundred and 
two j'^o^ acres w^ere donated for a public park and the gates and approaches 
thereto, and seventy-four ^'^^^ acres were by said City of St. Louis to be leased 
by said City through the Board of Commissioners of said Tower Grove Park, 
and the revenues derived therefrom to be paid over to said Shaw, or assigns, 
as will more fully and at large appear by reference to the provisions of said 
deed ; and whereas it was provided by the terms of said conveyance that such 
conveyance was made upon the express condition that said City of St. Louis 
should hold said property as long as said city should comply with the condi- 
tions annexed to the grant thereby made, and that upon the violation of said 
conditions or any of them the property should at once revert to said Shaw or 
to whomsoever he might appoint ; and whereas the condition in respect to the 
leasing of said seventy-four -^^-^ acres (being a strip of two hundred feet in 
width surrounding the park) and paying to said Shaw the revenue, is liable to 
different interpretations as to the performance thereof and the dependence 
of the grant, so far as the two hundred and two ^-^-^ acres granted for said 
Tower Grove Park and its approaches are concerned, is deemed onerous by 
said city : 

Now, therefore, the said Henry Shaw does hereby covenant and agree to 
and with said City of St. Louis that the non-performance by the City of St. 
Louis of conditions, covenants and agreements on the part of the city in rela- 
tion to said seventy-four ^y^ acres shall not work any forfeiture of the grant 
so made to the City of St. Louis of the two hundred and two ^-^-^ acres set 
apart and designated as Tower Grove Park in said deed and plat annexed 
thereto ; the said Shaw expressly reserving to himself and assigns the full and 
perfect right at all times, upon any willful violation on the part of the city or 
said commissioners to lease the said seventy-four ^^^ acres from time to time 
as provided in said conveyance and pay the rents to him or to whomsoever 
he may appoint to enforce the performance of the agreement for and concern- 
ing the said leasing or payment of net rents and revenues therefrom to said 
Shaw, or assigns, by writ of mandamus or other appropriate remedy against 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 115 

the City of St. Louis or said commissioners, the said Shaw hereby in no man- 
ner modifying, changing or impairing the conditions of said grant in this par- 
ticular so far as the 74^'^^^ acres are concerned. 

And whereas, also, it is desired by said city that the condition of said grant 
that the said City and County of St. Louis shall each year appropriate the 
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars in gold for the keeping up, maintaining 
and improving said park shall be made more definite and specific, being the 
third condition specified in said deed : 

Therefore the said Shaw does hereby covenant and agree to and with the 
said City of St. Louis that no forfeiture of the said Tower Grove Park and its 
approaches of two hundred and two y^^^^ acres nor right of re-entry upon said 
park shall accrue to or be enforcible by said Shaw, his heirs or assigns, unless 
upon the willful neglect or default of said city to make such yearly appropri- 
ation, and not unless the said Shaw, his heirs or assigns, shall have notified in 
writing said city that he or they claim said forfeiture and right of re-entrj^ by 
virtue of such neglect and default on the part of said city and one year after 
said notification shall have expired without any such appropriation having 
been made. Nothing herein contained shall be considered in any way as 
qualifying, impairing or controlling the right of said commissioners of Tower 
Grove Park to demand and have from said city from and after the period stip- 
ulated in said deed the yearly sum of twenty-five thousand dollars as provided 
therein, or the right of said Shaw, his heirs or assigns, or said commissioners, 
to enforce the payment of the same by appropriate remedies if they so elect. 

Said Shaw hereby admits the performance on the part of the said City of 
St. Louis of the second condition annexed to said grant, being the payment 
by said City of St. Louis to the said commissioners of the proceeds of bonds 
of the City of St, Louis as authorized to be issued by law for the laying out, 
constructing and embellishing said park. 

This Agreement is not to be considered and taken as in any way modifying, 
controlling or affecting the provisions and conditions in said deed contained 
except as to the matters and to the extent and degree herein mentioned, 
but the same remain in full force entirely unaffected by anything herein 
contained. 

The said Henry Shaw, for and in consideration of one dollar to him paid 
by the City of St. Louis, does hereby remise, release, quit-claim and convey 
unto the City of St. Louis for the purpose of Tower Grove Park, and as a part 
thereof, of a certain lot of ground containing two hundred feet from north to 
south by one hundred feet from east to west, and being the eastern one hun- 
dred feet of said strip of two hundred feet surrounding the park, commencing 
at the Tower Grove gate, as represented on the plat annexed to said deed, and 
running east one hundred feet, being the same lot of ground on which the 
superintendent's house and offices of said park are placed. 

To Have and to Hold the same unto the said City, in absolute property 
and fee, upon the same terms and conditions as they now hold said Tower 
Grove Park and so long as the said City shall comply therewith. 

In Witness whereof, the said Henry Shaw has set his hand and seal this 
ninth day of July, 1872. (Signed,) 

HENRY SHAW, [seal] 

^Internal fieveniie stamji,'] 



116 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

State of Missouri, > 

County of St. Louis, y 

Be it Remembered, that on this thirteenth day 
of July, A.D. (1872) eighteen hundred and seventy-two, before me the under- 
signed, Recorder of deeds for said county, came Henry Shaw, who is person- 
ally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the fore- 
going instrument of writing as party thereto, and he acknowledged the same 
to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. 

Witness my hand and official seal the date last aforesaid, 
[SEAL.] W. C. KENNETT, Recorder. 

Recorded in the Recorder's office of St. Louis County, Book 449, page 508. 



CITY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZINO ISSUE OF BONDS, ETC. 



[No. 6,60fi.] 

An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor and Comptroller to issue and dispose of 
Bonds of the City of St. Louis for the purpose of improving " The Tower 
Grove Park" of the City of St. Louis. 

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of St. Louis as follows : 

Section 1. That the Mayor and Comptroller be and are hereby author- 
ized and required to issue and dispose of bonds of the city of the character 
and denomination authorized and in number sufficient to raise the amount 
of current funds authorized to be issued, and for the purposes mentioned and 
authorized in act of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, entitled 
" An Act to create, establish and provide for the government of the Tower 
Grove Park of the citj^ of St. Louis," approved March ninth, eighteen hun- 
dred and sixty-seven, and to do all and solely the things necessary to be 
done by said officers for the execution of the intent and purpose of the afore- 
said act. 

Approved July 3d, 1868. 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 117 



RULES AND REGULATIONS. 



In accordance with the authority conferred by the Act creating Tower 
Grove Park, the Board of Commissioners have adopted the following rules 
and regulations : 

All persons are forbidden — 

1. To enter or leave the park except by the gateways. 

2. To climb the fences. 

3. To turn cattle, horses, goats or swine into the park or the avenues sur- 
rounding the park. 

4. To carry firearms or to throw stones or other missiles within it. 

5. To cut, break, or in any way injure or deface the trees, shrubs, plants, 
turf, or any of the buildings, fences, bridges, or other constructions upon 
the park ; 

6. Or to converse with, or in any way hinder, those engaged on the work 
of the park. 

7. A pound is hereby established within the Tower Grove Park for the 
impounding of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and swine found trespassing 
upon said park or the adjacent avenues. All such animals found at large 
ma3' be taken by any person or persons and driven or carried to the pound, 
and may be kept enclosed therein during five days, at the end of which time, 
if not previously claimed, they may be sold at public auction ; provided, that, 
within two days after they shall have been impounded, notice of the sale shall 
have been conspicuously posted in the pound or vicinity. 

Any person claiming property in such impounded animals before the day 
of sale, may recover the same, after suitable proof of his or her right thereto, 
upon payment for each animal of the sum of two dollars and the expenses of 
keeping ; the expenses of keeping to be reckoned as follows : 

For each horse, dog, or head of neat stock, sixty cents per day ; 

For each goat, swine, or sheep, twenty-five cents per day. 
These charges shall be paid to the chief park keeper of Tower Grove Park, and 
the money thus collected shall by him be handed over within one week to the 
comptroller of the board. 

If within one month after the sale of any impounded animals their former 
owner shall appear and claim the same, the treasurer shall, after deducting 
the full amount of the charges provided for above, pay over to him the pro- 
ceeds of their sale; otherwise the amount shall be added to the funds of the 
board. 

8. No animal shall travel on any part of the Tower Grove Park, except 
upon the drive or carriage road, at a rate exceeding six miles per hour. Per- 
sons on horseback shall not travel on the drive or equestrian road at a rate 
exceeding seven miles per hour. 

9. No vehicle or riding shall be permitted on the walks, the same being- 
devoted exclusively to pedestrians ; nor shall any vehicle, horse, or burden, go 



118 TOWER GROVE PARK. 

upon any part of the park except upon the '* drive, "and upon such places as 

are appropriated for carriages at rest. 

10. No animal or vehicle shall be permitted to stand upon the "drive" or 
carriage roads of the park, or any part thereof, to the obstruction of the way 
or to the inconvenience of travel, nor shall any person upon the park solicit 
or invite passengers. 

11. No hackney coach, carriage, or other vehicle for hire, shall stand 
upon any part of the park for the purpose of taking in any other passengers 
or persons than those carried to the park by said coach, carriage, or vehicle, 
unless invited by the persons having said vehicle. 

12. No person shall expose any article or thing for sale upon the park 
except previously licensed by the Board of Commissioners of Tower Grove 
Park, nor shall any hawking or peddling be allowed on the park. 

13. No omnibus or express wagon, with or without passengers, nor any 
cart, dray, wagon, truck, or other vehicle carrying goods, merchandise, ma- 
nure, soil or other article, or solely used for the carriage of goods, merchan- 
dise, manure, or other articles, shall be allowed to enter any part of Tower 
Grove Park, or any vehicle carrying more than six persons. 

14. No threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language shall be al- 
lowed on the park whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned. 

15. No person shall be allowed to tell fortunes or play at any game of 
chance at or with any table or instrument of gaming, nor to do any obscene 
or indecent act whatever in Tower Grove Park. 

16. Tower Grove Park shall be open daily to the public during the 
months of December, January and February from seven o'clock in the morn- 
ing until half an hour after sunset in the evening ; during the months of 
March, April, May, June, October, and November, from six in the morning 
until half an hour after sunset , and during the months of July, August, and 
September, from five in the morning until half an hour after sunset in the 
evening. 

17. The comptroller or superintendent may direct that the park or any 
of the entrances to the park be closed at any time, and may, on special occa- 
sions, also direct that the park or any portion thereof remain open at other 
times than those specified. 

18. No person other than employees of the Board of Commissioners of 
Tower Grove Park shall enter or remain in the park except when it is open as 
above provided. 

19. No person, except in the employ of the Board of Commissioners of 
the Tower Grove Park, shall bring upon the Tower Grove Park any tree, 
shrub, plant, or flower, nor any newly plucked branch or portion of a tree, 
shrub, plant, or flower. 

20. No person shall fire, discharge or set off in Tower Grove Park any 
rocket, cracker, torpedo, squib, balloon, snake, chaser, or double-header, nor 
any fireworks or thing under any other name composed of the same or similar 
material, or of the same or similar character, as the fireworks above specified, 
except with consent of Board of Commissioners or comptroller. 

21. No person shall place or propel any invalid chairs, perambulators, 



TOWER GROVE PARK. 119 

bicycles or velocipedes upon any portion of the Tower Grove Park except 
upon the walks. 

22. No person shall post or otherwise affix any bill or notice, in paper or 
paint, upon any structure or thing within the park, nor upon any of the gates 
or surrounding avenues. 

23. No person shall without the consent of the comptroller of the park 
play upon any musical instrument within Tower Grove Park, nor shall any 
person take into or carry or display in the park any flag, banner, target, or 
transparency'. 

24. No military or target company, or civic or other procession, shall be 
permitted to parade, drill or perform upon the park any military or other 
evolutions or movements without the written consent of the comptroller. 

25. No fire-engine, hook or ladder, cart, hose, truck, or other machine on 
wheels commonly used for the extinguishing of fire, shall be allowed on any 
part of Tower Grove Park without the previous consent of the comptroller of 
the park. 

26. No funeral procession or hearse, or other vehicle or person carrying 
the body of a deceased person, shall be allowed on any part of Tower Grove 
Park. 

27. No person, except in the employ of the Board of Commissioners of 
Tower Grove Park, shall light, make or use any fire upon the Tower Grove 
Park. 



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